Iran’s drought: A disaster in slow motion – DW

Report on Iran’s Water Crisis and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Iran is currently facing an unprecedented water crisis, characterized by severe drought and systemic resource mismanagement. This situation poses a direct threat to the nation’s ability to achieve several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to water, food security, and sustainable communities.

Analysis of the Crisis in the Context of SDGs

SDG 13: Climate Action and Worsening Drought

The crisis is exacerbated by climatic conditions consistent with the challenges outlined in SDG 13 (Climate Action). An extreme summer heatwave has transitioned into a period of severe precipitation deficit.

• Official data indicates that since September 23, 15 of Iran’s 31 provinces have recorded zero rainfall.
• The nation has experienced six consecutive years of drought, leading to critically low reservoir levels.

SDG 6 & SDG 11: Water Scarcity in Urban Centers

The water shortage directly impacts SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), especially in the capital, Tehran.

• Authorities have imposed water rationing in Tehran, a metropolitan area with a population of nearly 18 million.
• The city’s water infrastructure is described as outdated and dilapidated, leading to significant water loss during transit. This infrastructure failure undermines the core targets of SDG 6.
• Residents report low water pressure and unannounced supply cuts, forcing reliance on pumps and storage containers.
• The severity of the situation has led to high-level discussions about the potential evacuation of Tehran, highlighting a critical failure in ensuring urban resilience as per SDG 11.

SDG 2 & SDG 6: Agricultural Water Consumption

The agricultural sector’s water consumption patterns are unsustainable and represent the primary driver of the crisis, conflicting with the objectives of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6.

• The agriculture sector is responsible for approximately 80-90% of the nation’s total water consumption.
• This inefficient use of water for food production depletes reserves needed for drinking and sanitation, creating a direct conflict between SDG 2 and SDG 6 targets.
• Environmental experts argue that conservation efforts focused solely on residential consumption are insufficient to address the scale of the problem.

Quantifying Water Depletion and Governance Failures

Long-Term Resource Depletion

Decades of overuse and inefficient management have led to a quantifiable and alarming depletion of national water reserves, a direct contravention of the principles of sustainable water management (SDG 6).

• According to research from Stuttgart University, Iran has been losing an average of 16 cubic kilometers of water annually since 2002.
• The total water loss over the last 23 years is estimated at 370 cubic kilometers.

Institutional Challenges and SDG 17

Effective governance and strong institutions are crucial for achieving all SDGs, as highlighted in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Reports indicate significant institutional failings in managing Iran’s water crisis.

• Critics point to “unqualified managers in key institutions” and the political sidelining of environmental experts as major contributors to the crisis.
• The lack of a clear, comprehensive plan from officials beyond rationing underscores a need for stronger, more competent institutional frameworks.

Recommendations for a Sustainable Path Forward

Proposed Mitigation Strategies

Experts have outlined a series of measures that align with the SDGs and could provide both short-term relief and long-term sustainability.

1. Prioritize Drinking Water: Implement short-term measures to divert water from less critical uses to ensure urban drinking water supply, directly supporting SDG 6.
2. Leverage Technology for Monitoring: Utilize satellite imagery to create an independent and accurate overview of water losses and to formulate realistic water budgets, enhancing the capacity to manage resources under SDG 6 and protect ecosystems under SDG 15 (Life on Land).
3. Transform Agriculture: Reorient the agricultural sector towards crops appropriate for the arid climate and implement modern, efficient irrigation systems. This is a critical step for achieving both SDG 2 and SDG 6.

The implementation of these solutions is contingent upon significant institutional reform, the development of technical capacity, and the political will to enact sustainable policies, reinforcing the foundational importance of SDG 17.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Iran’s water crisis touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on water, but the causes and consequences described link to broader issues of climate, urban living, and resource management.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most central SDG discussed. The article’s entire theme revolves around water scarcity, drought, inefficient water use, and the struggle to provide a stable water supply to the population. It details the “unprecedented drought,” the rationing of water in Tehran, and the depletion of water reserves.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The crisis is framed significantly around the capital, Tehran. The article highlights the city’s constantly growing population (nearly 18 million in the metropolitan area), its “outdated and dilapidated” water infrastructure, and the severe impact of water restrictions on its residents. The mention of a potential evacuation of Tehran directly addresses the sustainability and resilience of urban centers.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly links the water crisis to climate change, mentioning that “the summer itself brought extreme heat” and that the crisis is exacerbated by “climate conditions and the persistent drought.” This connects the local water issue to the broader global challenge of climate change and the need for adaptation and resilience.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  While not focused on hunger, this SDG is relevant through its targets on sustainable agriculture. The article identifies the agriculture sector as the primary consumer of water, using “about 80-90%.” It points out the unsustainability of this practice and suggests a solution: “transform Iran’s agriculture and orient it to crops appropriate for the climate, paired with a more efficient irrigation system.” This directly relates to creating sustainable food production systems.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article discusses the “decades of overuse” of water reserves and inefficient consumption patterns. The authorities’ call for residents to reduce water consumption by 20% and the fact that the country has been “losing some 16 cubic kilometers of water per year since 2002” highlight the urgent need for sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article shows this target is not being met, citing “rolling restrictions on water supply,” “unannounced water restrictions,” and residents needing “water containers and pumps to bridge the supply issues.”
   • Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…” This target is directly addressed by the article’s focus on “inefficient irrigation,” “faulty infrastructure” where “much of the water is lost in transit,” and the massive water consumption by the agriculture sector (80-90%). The depletion of 370 cubic kilometers of water over 23 years shows that withdrawals are unsustainable.
   • Target 6.5: “By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels…” The article implies a failure in this area by mentioning the lack of a “clear plan to overcome this crisis,” the presence of “unqualified managers in key institutions,” and the need for “institutional reforms” and “political will.”

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…” The unreliable water supply is a failure to provide a basic service to the nearly 18 million people in the Tehran metropolitan area.
   • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters…” The “unprecedented drought” is a water-related disaster affecting millions of people. The hint that “Tehran might be evacuated due to the water crisis” underscores the scale of the disaster’s impact on the population.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article demonstrates Iran’s vulnerability and lack of adaptive capacity to the “persistent drought” and “extreme heat,” with authorities resorting to short-term measures like “imposing water restrictions and waiting for the rain” rather than implementing a sustainable, long-term solution.

4. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” The article critiques the current agricultural system’s reliance on 80-90% of the country’s water, which is unsustainable. The proposed solution to “transform Iran’s agriculture and orient it to crops appropriate for the climate” is a direct call to implement this target.

5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The article’s core message is about the unsustainable use of water. The statistic that Iran has been “losing some 16 cubic kilometers of water per year since 2002” is a stark illustration of the failure to manage this natural resource sustainably.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the severity of the crisis and any progress towards the SDGs.

• Indicator for Water Scarcity (SDG 6.4.2): The level of water stress is explicitly detailed. Indicators include:
  • “Half of Iran has not seen a drop of rain since the end of summer.”
  • “reservoirs in Tehran dropping to their lowest level in decades.”
  • The country losing “16 cubic kilometers of water per year since 2002,” totaling “370 cubic kilometers… over the last 23 years.”
• Indicator for Water-Use Efficiency (SDG 6.4.1): The article implies inefficiency and provides metrics for consumption.
  • The agriculture sector’s consumption of “about 80-90%” of water is a key indicator of sectoral water use.
  • The goal to reduce residential consumption by “some 20%” and the current achievement of only “12%” serve as direct measures of progress in changing consumption patterns.
• Indicator for Access to Basic Services (SDG 11.1.1): The reliability of the water supply is an indicator.
  • The implementation of “rolling restrictions” and “unannounced water restrictions” indicates a lack of continuous and safe water supply for the urban population.
  • The number of people affected by these restrictions (nearly 18 million in the metropolitan area) is a measure of the scale of the problem.
• Indicator for Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1): The proportion of agriculture adapted to local climate conditions is an implied indicator.
  • The article suggests a shift to “crops appropriate for the climate,” implying that the current crop selection is inappropriate and unsustainable, which could be measured.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dw.com