Pezeshkian at COP31 urges accountability for environmental damage from US and Israeli strikes on Iran

President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the leaders' summit of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Wednesday, saying the world needed to reconsider shared responsibility, climate justice and the inseparable link between peace and the environment. He said wars targeting land, water, air and natural resources leave environmental consequences that can persist for generations.

Referring to recent US and Israeli acts of aggression against Iran, Pezeshkian said the strikes had caused extensive human and economic losses as well as serious environmental damage. Citing assessments, he said attacks on fuel facilities in Asaluyeh had released approximately 500,000 tons of pollutants, while strikes on fuel storage facilities around Tehran had resulted in the release of about one million tons of carbon dioxide. He described the environmental consequences of military operations as a contradiction to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saying fuel consumption, explosions, infrastructure destruction and widespread fires could undermine years of climate and environmental protection efforts. He also referred to attacks on protected areas and environmental ranger stations, describing such sites as shared assets that must be preserved for present and future generations.

The president called for stronger mechanisms to document, prevent and ensure accountability for environmental damage, urging the international community to connect climate commitments during peacetime with responsibilities during armed conflicts. He also called for stronger mechanisms to compensate for environmental losses resulting from military aggression.

Pezeshkian said Iran had continued developing renewable energy despite sanctions and restrictions on access to international finance and technology. He noted that the country's renewable power capacity had increased from around 1,250 megawatts to more than 6,150 megawatts over the past two years. He added that clean electricity generation had exceeded 4.5 billion kilowatt-hours this year, preventing an estimated 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Pezeshkian said the Earth belonged neither to one nation nor to one generation, but was a trust that must be passed on safely to future generations. He said peace is a prerequisite for environmental protection, and environmental protection is a prerequisite for lasting peace, reaffirming Iran's readiness for fair and responsible international cooperation. According to Mehr News, the remarks were delivered at the COP31 leaders' summit in Antalya.