Pezeshkian Demands War-Time Environmental Compensation at COP31

President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran demanded the establishment of international compensation mechanisms for environmental damage caused by military aggressions during the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey. Speaking on Wednesday, Pezeshkian argued that the global community must link peacetime climate commitments with wartime responsibility, noting that current international agreements lack provisions for military-induced ecological impacts.

Pezeshkian detailed the environmental toll of a military campaign launched by the United States and Israel starting February 28, which targeted energy infrastructure and shipping. He claimed that strikes on fuel storage tanks near Tehran on March 7 released 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, while attacks on gas processing facilities in Asaluyeh on March 18 released another 500,000 tons. He further alleged that the offensive targeted protected areas and environmental ranger stations.

Beyond carbon emissions, the conflict involved Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in substantial oil leaks. Pezeshkian called for international organizations to document damage in Iran and the Gaza Strip to hold aggressors accountable. While Pezeshkian highlighted Iran's growth in renewable energy capacity—increasing from 1,250 to over 6,150 megawatts in two years—international scientists reported that the broader conflict may have slightly decreased global fossil fuel emissions due to rising prices and a shift toward renewables.