‘We may have to evacuate’

Authorities in a major Middle Eastern capital are considering drastic measures to manage severe water shortages caused by severe drought.

What’s going on?

BBC It was reported that Tehran, the capital of Iran, is on the verge of running out of water. The lack of rainfall caused the capacity of the dams supplying water to the city to fall below 10%. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that rationing and other extreme options are on the table if the rains fail: “If rationing doesn’t work, we may have to evacuate.”

Unfortunately, there is no end to the drought and the country started Controversial cloud planting operations in a desperate attempt to make it rain. Iran Meteorological Organization announced 89% drop Compared to last year, the worst drought in the last fifty years was experienced.

Why is Iran facing major water shortages?

Iran’s water problems are not particularly new. The World Resources Institute ranks Iran as the 14th water-stressed country in the world. “One of 25 countries”extremely high“Basic water stress.

Part of the problem is over-extraction of groundwater; 70% Iran’s groundwater is considered to be overextracted. Iran has doubled its cultivated land since the revolution. sought self-sufficiency. However, the country’s infrastructure has not been updated enough to meet this increasing demand and production. Nearly causes Tehran to sink 30 centimeters a year and other misguided attempts don’t help much.

Additionally, heat-trapping pollution from dirty energy makes extreme weather events like droughts longer and more severe. A warmer atmosphere causes precipitation to be more erratic and dry areas to become drier. The situation is further complicated by geopolitical tensions. Regional conflicts are damaging already weak water infrastructure and limiting Iran’s diplomatic options.

What can be done against droughts?

The story highlights the importance of staying up to date climate issues. As dire as the situation may seem, there are steps Iran can and should take to improve its water security.

Cloud seeding is unlikely to be the solution, but turning to more sustainable, less water-intensive farming practices could free up enough water to quench the thirst of Tehran and other major cities. According to Al Jazeera, agriculture over 90% A large portion of the country’s water use is wasted. Even a small cut in water used for agriculture could provide short-term relief.

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