War destroys ecosystems and threatens the well-being of future generations: Pezeshkian

The environmental damage caused by war can persist for decades, threatening biodiversity and the well-being of future generations, Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, said in his speech at COP17 in Yerevan.

According to him, global discussions on biodiversity can no longer ignore the fact that wars target and destroy not only human lives and economic infrastructure, but also the environment.

“War destroys forests, fertile soils and water resources, damages fragile ecosystems, displaces wild species and releases hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into the environment. The environmental consequences of war can persist for decades after the end of hostilities,” the Iranian president noted.