Environmental and Ethnic Marginalization in Northwestern Iran: A Sustainable Development Perspective

Introduction

In the northwestern provinces of Iran—East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Hamadan, Qazvin, and Zanjan—ethnic Azerbaijanis represent the country’s largest non-Persian minority, comprising approximately 35 to 40 percent of the population. Despite their demographic significance, these communities face systemic marginalization, lacking political inclusion and cultural recognition. This report highlights the intersection of environmental degradation and ethnic disenfranchisement in these regions, emphasizing the urgent need to address these issues through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Systemic Marginalization and Environmental Neglect

For generations, Azerbaijani communities in Iran have been excluded from governance, denied education in their native language, and erased from national media narratives. This marginalization extends to environmental neglect and regional underdevelopment, exacerbating inequalities and threatening basic human rights such as access to clean water, arable land, and breathable air. These challenges directly relate to several SDGs, including:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Environmental Crises in Azerbaijani-Majority Provinces

Lake Urmia: A Symbol of Ecological and Cultural Loss

Lake Urmia, once the Middle East’s largest saltwater lake, has lost over 90% of its surface area in the past two decades, shrinking into a salt and dust bed. The lake’s collapse is a potent symbol of environmental mismanagement and ethnic marginalization. Key factors include:

1. Excessive groundwater extraction and dam construction driven by Tehran’s national food self-sufficiency policies.
2. Neglect of environmental oversight in dam and irrigation projects.
3. Disproportionate infrastructure investment favoring Persian-majority provinces over Azerbaijani regions.

The degradation of Lake Urmia undermines SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), while also impacting cultural identity and social stability.

Water Scarcity and Agricultural Decline

In provinces such as East Azerbaijan, Zanjan, and Ardabil, water shortages have reached critical levels, threatening agricultural livelihoods and food security. The Khodabandehlu region exemplifies this crisis, where wells are drying and clean water is scarce. This situation challenges progress toward:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Sungun Copper Mine: Environmental and Health Impacts

The Sungun copper mine in East Azerbaijan has caused severe environmental damage, including farmland devastation, water contamination, and soil pollution with toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, and copper. This ongoing ecological disaster reflects weak enforcement of environmental regulations, particularly in ethnic minority regions, and threatens:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 15: Life on Land

Aras River Contamination and Public Health Risks

The Aras River, a transboundary waterway supplying East Azerbaijan and Ardabil, is increasingly polluted by radioactive and chemical waste from upstream sources, including Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear plant and regional mining operations. This contamination has been linked to high rates of gastrointestinal cancers and threatens over one million people. Addressing this crisis aligns with:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Governance Challenges and the Need for Inclusive Environmental Management

The environmental crises in Iran’s Azerbaijani provinces are compounded by political exclusion and centralized governance that marginalizes minority voices. Key governance issues include:

• Limited political representation and cultural recognition of Azerbaijani communities.
• Unequal allocation of infrastructure investments and environmental resources.
• Suppression of local activists and civil society groups advocating for environmental justice.

These challenges undermine SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), highlighting the need for decentralization and empowerment of local stakeholders.

Recommendations for Sustainable Development and Policy Reform

1. Multilateral Environmental Cooperation: Establish binding international agreements involving Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to monitor and regulate shared water resources like the Aras River, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Human Rights Council, and the World Health Organization (WHO). This supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
2. Decentralization and Local Empowerment: Promote inclusive governance by empowering Azerbaijani civil society, community leaders, and environmental scientists in regional planning and decision-making processes, advancing SDG 16 and SDG 10.
3. Environmental Justice and Human Rights Integration: Recognize environmental degradation as a human rights issue, ensuring equitable access to clean water, arable land, and a healthy environment, in line with SDG 6 and SDG 3.
4. Transparent and Accountable Development Policies: Enforce environmental impact assessments rigorously, particularly in minority regions, to prevent harmful extractive practices and promote sustainable economic development, supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15.
5. Restoration Initiatives: Revitalize Lake Urmia and other degraded ecosystems through sustained, transparent, and community-inclusive recovery programs, contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15.

Conclusion

The environmental and ethnic marginalization experienced by Iran’s Azerbaijani provinces is a multidimensional crisis that threatens ecological sustainability, human rights, and national stability. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing inclusive governance, environmental justice, and international cooperation. Failure to act risks deepening inequalities, accelerating environmental degradation, and fueling social unrest, with consequences extending beyond regional borders.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Issues of water shortages, polluted aquifers, and lack of access to clean water in Azerbaijani-majority provinces.
   • Contamination of the Aras River and drying of Lake Urmia affecting water availability and quality.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Systematic marginalization of ethnic Azerbaijanis in political inclusion and resource allocation.
   • Unequal infrastructure investment favoring Persian-majority provinces over Azerbaijani regions.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Climate change exacerbating water shortages and environmental degradation.
   • Need for sustainable environmental policies to mitigate ecological collapse.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Loss of biodiversity due to pollution, mining, and drying lakes.
   • Collapse of ecosystems such as Lake Urmia and surrounding farmland.

5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Political exclusion and repression of minority rights.
   • Need for inclusive governance and protection of civil society in minority regions.

6. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Health impacts from water contamination, including increased gastrointestinal cancers.
   • Respiratory illnesses caused by dust storms from dried lakebeds.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals.
   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including transboundary cooperation.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of ethnicity.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce degradation of natural habitats and halt biodiversity loss.

5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • Target 16.10: Protect fundamental freedoms and ensure public access to information and participation.

6. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: Reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and pollution.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Water Quality and Availability Indicators (SDG 6)

   • Percentage of population using safely managed drinking water services.
   • Levels of pollutants and toxins (arsenic, cadmium, copper) in water bodies like the Aras River and aquifers.
   • Surface area and water level changes of Lake Urmia (e.g., 90% loss of surface area, 62 cm drop in 2024).
   • Number and regulation status of dams affecting water flow and quality.

2. Health Indicators (SDG 3)

   • Incidence rates of gastrointestinal cancers in affected provinces like Ardabil.
   • Prevalence of respiratory illnesses linked to dust storms from dried lakebeds.

3. Inclusion and Governance Indicators (SDG 10 and 16)

   • Representation of ethnic Azerbaijanis in governance and state institutions.
   • Access to education in native language and cultural recognition.
   • Participation of local civil society and environmental activists in decision-making.

4. Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Indicators (SDG 15)

   • Extent of land degradation and contamination from mining activities.
   • Biodiversity loss indicators such as disappearance of migratory birds from Lake Urmia.

5. Climate Resilience Indicators (SDG 13)

   • Implementation status of environmental policies and recovery plans (e.g., Lake Urmia restoration efforts).
   • Adaptive capacity measures for communities facing water scarcity and environmental hazards.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

Source: intpolicydigest.org