Vice President: National Carbon Market Is Coming | Environmental Blueprint for Industrial Competitiveness

Shina Ansari, Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, speaking at the National Conference on Mining and Mineral Industries in the Carbon Age, stressed the need for industries to shift toward low-carbon production. He outlined government measures to manage climate change, develop renewable energy, and build infrastructure for the national voluntary carbon market.

Oil and Energy Group; Referring to the consequences of climate change in Iran, Shina Ansari, the head of the Environmental Protection Organization, said: the increase in temperature in the West Asian region is higher than the global average, and the country has faced the consequences of climate change more than in the past. Therefore, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the issue of adapting to climate change is also of particular importance.

Referring to the measures taken in the past years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he added: In the 14th government, based on Article 22 of the 7th Progress Plan Law, the National Climate Change Management Program has been approved. This program includes various axes and it has been tried to use expert views in its development and promotion.

Voluntary national carbon market on the agenda of the government

Referring to the prediction of the creation of a voluntary national carbon market in the national climate change management program, the head of the Environmental Protection Organization said: In the first step, capacity building for the formation of this market inside the country is on the agenda. Ansari explained that this market will be focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and large-scale industries are among the important sectors in this field.

He emphasized that industries should take the lead in this direction by planning, conducting necessary audits and implementing effective measures to reduce carbon emissions. According to him, such an approach, while helping to protect the environment, can reduce the cost of products and strengthen the economic benefits of industries.

In the end, referring to the actions of this organization to provide the infrastructure of the national voluntary carbon market, Ansari said: mechanisms related to monitoring, reporting and verification, as well as capacity building for the implementation of this market, are on the agenda; However, the specific approval of this market has not been finalized yet.

The capacity of renewable energy exceeded 5000 megawatts

Referring to the development of renewable energy in the 14th government, Ansari said: the country's renewable energy capacity has increased from around 1,000 megawatts at the beginning of this government to more than 5,000 megawatts. According to him, this process can help to diversify the country's energy portfolio and reduce environmental consequences, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The head of the Environmental Protection Organization also listed the reduction of flaring in the oil industry and the improvement of energy consumption management and efficiency of power plants as other measures related to reducing the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

He added: Despite the follow-up of these programs, the war and the unstable conditions caused by it, the implementation of some of the environmental programs of the government has been interrupted or slowed down.

carbon reduction; An opportunity for the competitiveness of Iranian industries

Emphasizing the link between economic interests and environmental protection, the head of the Environmental Protection Organization said: Industries that have a lower carbon footprint will have a greater competitive advantage in global trade interactions and exchanges.

Referring to the need for industries to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Ansari said: resource management, waste reduction and the use of new technologies can help reduce the cost of products and strengthen the position of industries in global markets.

He emphasized that reducing carbon emissions should not be considered only as an environmental requirement; Increasing productivity and reducing production costs are also important results of this approach. According to him, simultaneous movement in the path of economic development and environmental protection can provide the basis for producing more competitive products and reducing environmental damage.