Bridging Sanctions and Climate Justice: Facilitating Iran’s Access to Climate Mitigation Support

Abstract

As a major greenhouse gas emitter and a developing nation in the Global South, Iran faces exceptional challenges in addressing climate change while under international sanctions. These sanctions restrict access to crucial finance and technology, hindering effective mitigation efforts. This article examines the intersection of climate justice and international sanctions, advocating for a balanced approach that maintains the intent of sanctions while introducing humanitarian exceptions for climate relief. Drawing on precedents in medical and humanitarian exemptions, this study explores potential legal mechanisms that could enable Iran’s participation in international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, within existing sanction frameworks. Notably, no established precedent currently addresses climate change mitigation within a climate justice framework under sanctions, distinguishing this issue as a niche area of legal and policy inquiry. By bridging this gap, this study contributes to ongoing debates on equitable climate action and the responsibilities of high-emission States facing economic restrictions.