The Role of International Environmental Law in Addressing Climate Crises: An Analysis of Iran’s Compliance with Its Environmental Obligations

Subject Areas : International Environmental Law

Nooshin Azizollahi ¹ , Zeynab Poorkhaghan Shahrezaee ^{2 *}

1 -
2 - Department of Public International Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch ،Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-09-16 Accepted : 2025-03-10 Published : 2025-07-01

Keywords: International Environmental Law, Climate Change, International Obligations, Iran’s Performance, Climate Convention,

Abstract :

Climate crises have emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, transcending national boundaries and demanding coordinated international responses. In this context, international environmental law plays a critical role in shaping the obligations of states, developing global legal instruments, and strengthening compliance mechanisms aimed at combating climate change. This paper adopts an analytical approach to examine the foundational principles of international environmental law—including the principle of sustainable development, the polluter-pays principle, the precautionary principle, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities—and explores their incorporation into key international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. The second part of the study focuses on the performance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in fulfilling its environmental commitments. By analyzing official documents, Iran's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and practical implementation measures, the study identifies both the strengths and the challenges facing Iran. Despite Iran's formal adherence to many international environmental frameworks, the country faces significant operational and institutional obstacles, including economic sanctions, weak environmental governance, lack of coherent national planning, and limited financial resources. Moreover, the failure of the Iranian parliament to ratify the Paris Agreement has cast uncertainty on the country's long-term climate commitments. The paper concludes that strengthening the legal authority of international environmental law, coupled with internal political will, institutional capacity building, and effective environmental diplomacy, can significantly enhance Iran’s role in addressing the climate crisis and fulfilling its international obligations.

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