Speaking at the Conference on Destructive Impacts of War on the Environment opened in Tehran Tuesday, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “we have gathered together to exchange views on the effects of war on the environment as well as the relationship between peace and the environment .”
“Devastating impacts of war on the environment have affected both the region and the international community leading to international concerns about non-compliance with environmental laws,” he added.
He stated that even Islamic teachings have referred to the adverse effects of war on the environment prohibiting use of environment-destructing tools.
The foreign minister underlined the need for a peace and environment paradigm; “in today’s world, environment and security are viewed as public goods and neither can be achieved at the cost of preventing others from possessing them.”
“Similar to environmental issues, the risks and threats of security concerns are shared by all countries,” noted Zarif adding “one must admit that they cannot create security for themselves by funding terrorist groups, extremism, destructive weapons or support for the Zionist regime.”
The official emphasized that only by accepting these facts we can enter a new paradigm in international relations; a paradigm which reinvigorates peace, environment, development as well as expansion of human relations only if they are accessible to everyone.”
“We will reach peace and prosperity if we want them for others as well by having cooperation rather than competition and by respecting collective interest leading to global stability,” he concluded.
On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6 November as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Tehran's Tuesday conference, organized by Iran's Department of Environment, was to commemorate the day.
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