In the heart of Iran’s central plateau, the ZayandehRud Basin is facing an escalating water crisis, and climate change is playing a significant role. A recent study led by Ladan Naderi from the University of Zanjan’s Agricultural Extension, Communication and Rural Development Department, sheds light on how climate change is intensifying water conflicts in this vital region, with implications for the energy sector and beyond.
The ZayandehRud Basin, a critical water source for municipalities, industries, and agriculture, has seen its water supply dwindle due to a combination of human activities and climatic factors. This scarcity has sparked conflicts among stakeholders, with each vying for their share of the dwindling resource. Naderi’s research, published in the journal ‘مطالعات مدیریت توسعه سبز’ (translated as ‘Studies in Green Development Management’), aims to understand the impact of climate change on these conflicts and explore strategies for effective conflict management.
The study reveals that rainfall patterns and drought severity have significantly altered in recent years. “The average monthly rainfall in the two sub-basins of ZayandehRud fluctuated and did not have the same trend,” Naderi explains. “The amount of precipitation in the Kohrang Station is decreasing, and this station has a higher drought intensity than the Isfahan Station.” These changes have profound implications for water availability and, consequently, the energy sector, which relies heavily on water for cooling and other processes.
The research also highlights the role of environmental factors in exacerbating water conflicts. Experts interviewed for the study pointed to decreased rainfall, declining snow deposits, and increased temperature and evaporation as key factors driving tensions. “Water specialists have emphasized climate changes, including the decrease in rainfall, reduction of snow deposits, and the increase in temperature as environmental factors affecting the intensity of tensions in the ZayandehRud basin,” Naderi notes.
The study proposes several strategies to manage these conflicts, with the most important being reforming cultivation patterns, creating a new management system for the entire basin, enhancing monitoring of policy and strategy implementation, reshaping stakeholders’ attitudes, prioritizing the benefits of stakeholders, and adopting new operational strategies. These strategies, if effectively implemented, could help mitigate conflicts and ensure more sustainable water use.
The findings of this research could shape future developments in water resource management, particularly in regions facing similar challenges. By understanding the impact of climate change on water conflicts, stakeholders can develop more effective strategies for managing this precious resource. This is particularly crucial for the energy sector, which is heavily dependent on water for its operations. As Naderi’s research underscores, addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that involves all stakeholders and considers the unique conditions of each basin.
In an era of climate change and water scarcity, studies like Naderi’s are invaluable. They provide a roadmap for navigating the complex interplay between climate change, water resources, and human activities, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and equitable water management practices.