In 2025, Iran, with an increase of about 19 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, has been recognized as the third highest in the world in this regard, following the United States and Turkey. This report, titled "Emission Gap 2026," indicates that the growth rate of greenhouse gas emissions in Iran significantly exceeds the global growth rate, being about two and a half times higher.
Iran's Role in Climate Change
Iran's greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 accounted for 10 percent of the total increase recorded for countries outside the G20. Annelhof, the senior scientific editor of this report, stated that Iran now constitutes about two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the eighth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
Despite its rich oil and gas resources, Iran faces an energy shortage. Reports indicate that the burning of associated gas and methane leaks are among the main factors contributing to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in this country. Estimates suggest that Iran's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 reached 1 billion and 119 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is about 1.7 percent higher than the previous year.
Impact of Various Sectors on Emissions
According to published data, greenhouse gas emissions in various economic sectors of Iran increased as follows in 2025: the electricity and fuel production sectors each increased by about three percent, agriculture by two percent, and other sectors such as industry, construction, transportation, and waste, each by about one percent. These figures pose serious challenges for policymakers and environmental activists.
Many of the mentioned problems, including the burning of associated gas, require investment and modernization of equipment. Given the existing economic challenges, implementing these solutions may face serious obstacles. Iran has become one of the largest countries burning associated gas in the world, a fact noted by the World Bank.
The development of renewable energy has been proposed as one of the effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. William Lamb, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, emphasizes that emission reduction technologies and solutions are readily available and their costs have significantly decreased over the past decade.
Ultimately, reports indicate that Iran performs poorly compared to other countries, especially in terms of methane emissions. Despite these challenges, necessary actions to improve the situation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are still under consideration and require serious cooperation and support from various entities.
Read more: Fire in California; homes burned and schools closed
