Absolutely.

But the problems are on different time scales and spheres of influence.

Iran can’t do anything on their own against climate change. But they can decide to fund water projects instead of bombs.

It’s a bit like saying: I went to the beach for a day and got sunburned. It’s climate change!

Yes the sun got more intense because of climate change (maybe) but why didn’t you buy an umbrella or sun screen?

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Y-bar 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Over 50% of their economy is petroleum, managed by the Ministry of Petroleum government body.

They pump over 4 Million barrels per day (https://ycharts.com/indicators/iran_crude_oil_production).

This equals about 1.7 Million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per day, which is an increase of 120% since year 2000 and corresponds to about 2% of the global CO2 emissions.

No nation on earth like Iran, save perhaps for China and Norway, is in such a unique position of power, both economically, socially, and with the engineering knowhow) and political ability to actually do something to prevent climate damage. Instead they are making the situation more difficult.

	▲	baxtr 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yes I agree. Still it isn’t either or. You can do both if you’re sensible. One will help in the mid-term and the other in the long-term.

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paganel 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> But they can decide to fund water projects instead of bombs.

And become again a client state of the West, you forgot that part.

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graemep 3 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> And become again a client state of the West, you forgot that part.

That matters if you live in a functioning democracy.

If you are being exploited and oppressed by your own ruling class rather than a foreign one it makes little difference. You might even be better off.

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baxtr 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Oh yes sorry. I forgot that it’s much better to let your people starve then to be a client state of the West. I think you have your trade-offs right.

	▲	croes 37 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		People in western client states still starve just with less of their countries resources.