Iran occupies a large expanse of predominantly arid or semi-arid land in West Asia. In this geographic context, qanats – traditional water systems for transporting and distributing water from sources in upland areas to dry plains – have historically provided a solution that sustains livelihoods and economic opportunities.
This case study illustrates Guiding Principle 7: Enhancing Economic Benefits and is part of a series of ten case studies which aim to inform the forthcoming wave of global infrastructure investment. Collectively, they specify and demonstrate how environmental, social and economic sustainability must be integrated right across infrastructure policymaking at the systems-level. The individual principles and case studies were developed via ongoing global consultation and inputs from experts and UN Member States, as part of implementation of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 4/5 on Sustainable Infrastructure.
These publications have been made possible by the financial support of the Global Environment Facility, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy.
Also available in Chinese, French and Spanish.
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