"Iranians are running out of water and choking on some of the world's worst air pollution, environmental crises that critics say exemplify the failures fueling anger at the country's theocratic regime. "If I want to use one word, it's mismanagement," Hamid Pouran, an environmental technology researcher who studied in Iran and is now based in the United Kingdom, told DW. The country's most pressing environmental concern is a worst-in-decades drought, now in its sixth consecutive year."
"Shut out from much of global trade, Iran has focused on establishing food self-sufficiency, and over the years has allowed farmers to drill wells into the aquifers deep below the ground. As a result, there are almost twice as many wells in Iran now than two decades ago, and research suggests more than 300 of its 609 aquifers are considered to be in a critical condition. Some 70% of the country's total water demand exists in areas where aquifers have been overdrawn."
Iran faces severe environmental crises including a six-year drought and extreme air pollution. Climate change has amplified drought risk, but corruption and short-term policy choices have deepened the problems. Agriculture consumes nearly all national water as a push for food self-sufficiency enabled widespread well drilling into deep aquifers. The number of wells has nearly doubled over two decades, and research identifies over 300 of 609 aquifers in critical condition. Approximately 70% of water demand occurs in areas with overdrawn aquifers. Proposals such as relocating the capital have been raised, but critics question their effectiveness in addressing root causes.
Read at www.dw.com
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