Kiera Jefferson
Iran has been battling pollution for several years. Tehran, the capital city of Iran, is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities. The city often experiences severe air pollution, with smog blanketing parts of the city, causing pulmonary illnesses and claiming an estimated 27 lives daily. Iran's pollution is attributed to various factors, including industrialization, urbanization, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The country's refusal to commit to sustainability goals and the lack of effective implementation of regulations have exacerbated the situation. Tehran's geographical location near fault lines and its high population density further contribute to its environmental challenges. While the Iranian government has implemented measures to address pollution, the complexity of the issue persists, and the country continues to face environmental degradation and climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 83.2 million as of 2018 |
| Population growth | 91.5 million in 2025, up from 25,781,090 in 1966 |
| Air pollution | Tehran is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities |
| Air pollution causes | Vehicle emissions, refinery operations, industrial effluents, burning of fossil fuels, construction sites |
| Air pollution control programs | Tehran and Arak have programs to reduce harmful chemicals |
| Air pollution index | Tehran's highest reading was 181 in December 2019 |
| Water scarcity | Caused by high climatic variability, uneven distribution, over-exploitation, and economic development |
| Water pollution | Industrial and urban wastewater runoff has contaminated rivers, coastal and underground waters |
| Soil erosion | 2.5 times the world average in 2017 |
| Forest Landscape Integrity Index | 7.67/10 in 2018, ranking 34th out of 172 countries |
| Environmental issues | Overgrazing, desertification, deforestation, destruction of wetlands, oil and chemical spills |
| Environmental policies | Signed but not ratified the Paris Agreement, not committed to sustainability goals |
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What You'll Learn
Tehran's air pollution
Tehran, the capital of Iran, is one of the world's most polluted cities. The city's pollution is caused by a combination of economic, geographical, and social factors.
Firstly, Tehran's pollution is largely due to economic factors. Most Iranian industries are located on the outskirts of Tehran, and the city is filled with old cars that do not meet modern emission regulations. Additionally, Iran's busiest airport, Mehrabad International Airport, is located in the west of the city, leading many people to rely on private cars or taxis, creating severe traffic congestion. International sanctions have also played a role, as they have led Iranian refineries to produce sub-par gasoline.
Secondly, Tehran's geographical location exacerbates the problem. The city is bound to the north by the Alborz mountain range, which blocks the flow of humid Caspian wind. As a result, Tehran often experiences thermal inversion, which traps the city's polluted air. The lack of humidity and clouds makes Tehran a very sunny city, increasing the evaporation of water and contributing to water scarcity.
Social and political factors have also contributed to Tehran's air pollution. Iran has a high population density, with significant population growth since 1966. This has led to increased urbanisation and industrialisation, with a corresponding rise in vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents. Iran also has a heavy reliance on fossil fuels and has not fully committed to sustainability goals, making it vulnerable to ecological crises and climate change.
The Iranian government has implemented various measures to combat air pollution, such as encouraging taxis and buses to use compressed natural gas engines and creating a Traffic Zone" in the city centre during peak hours. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been limited, and Tehran's air pollution continues to pose a significant risk to public health, causing widespread pulmonary illnesses and an estimated 27 deaths per day from pollution-related diseases.
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Industrial and urban wastewater
Iran's water resources are suffering from pollution due to the inadequate management of wastewater and solid waste. Industrial and urban wastewater runoff has contaminated rivers, coastal and underground waters. Almost two-thirds of the wastewater from industrial facilities finds its way into surface and groundwater resources without any treatment. The bulk of collected sewage is discharged untreated, constituting a major source of groundwater pollution and a risk to public health. This is particularly true in large cities, where overconsumption of water is common.
The government has been attempting to address these issues. In 1990, a fundamental sector reform was implemented with the ratification of the Provincial Water and Wastewater Companies Law. This shifted the responsibility for water and wastewater service provision from municipalities and provinces to sixty companies, evenly spread over Iran's thirty provinces. Each province has one urban and one rural water and wastewater company (WWC). The National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company (NWWEC) provides oversight and assistance to these service providers in areas such as investment planning and human resources development.
Despite these efforts, the reuse of treated wastewater is not widely applied in the urban sector, mainly for cultural reasons. However, in recent years, municipalities have been increasingly using treated wastewater in urban services such as green development and maintenance.
Water scarcity is a significant issue in Iran, affecting agriculture, industry, and urban water supplies. This has led to a large-scale migration from rural to urban areas, with thousands of people abandoning their homes and livelihoods due to water shortages. The government has responded by prioritizing water allocation for industrial and urban centers, often at the expense of rural and minority populations. This unequal development exacerbates regional disparities and fuels social unrest and environmental crises.
The country's water policy also heavily relies on dam construction and large-scale diversion projects, which primarily benefit politically connected enterprises and urban elites. This has led to the drying of rivers, wetlands, and other vital ecosystems, further intensifying environmental degradation.
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Population growth
Iran is one of the world's most populous countries, with a population of around 91.5 million as of November 2024. This figure has grown significantly since 1966, when the population was 25,781,090. The population reached 75,330,000 in 2010, and 80 million by 2016. This dramatic increase has contributed to the country's vulnerability to ecological crisis and climate change.
The country's population growth has been accompanied by rapid urbanisation. In 1950, only 27% of Iran's population lived in urban areas, but by 2015, this figure had risen to 73.4%. Tehran, the capital city, is the most populous region, with over 8.8 million residents, though some sources place this figure at 10 million. The city has been rapidly growing, with many buildings constructed without adequate earthquake protection, despite Tehran being located near three major fault lines. The Iranian government has offered financial incentives for around 5 million citizens to leave the city.
The population growth and urbanisation have had a significant impact on pollution levels in Iran. Tehran, for example, suffers from severe air pollution, with 80% of the city's pollution stemming from vehicular emissions and 20% from industrial sources. The number of vehicles in the city increases each year, with many older models that produce higher emissions than newer vehicles. Additionally, most cars use leaded gasoline and lack emissions control equipment. The city's geographical location and climate also contribute to the pollution problem.
The increase in population and urbanisation has also led to a rise in energy consumption. Iran has a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, which contributes to poor air quality and climate change. The country's power plant sector contributes 22% of its energy consumption and 44% of its carbon dioxide emissions. The intensification of economic development and the demand for energy-intensive products have further exacerbated the pollution problem in Iran.
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Vehicle emissions
The problem of vehicle emissions is not limited to Tehran, with many of Iran's major cities experiencing instances of smoke, haze, and fumes blanketing the air during certain times of the year due to massive vehicular emissions. Older models of heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, lorries, and buses, which typically run on diesel engines, are still found on the roads across Iran, and their emissions are far greater than those of newer vehicles that run on cleaner fuel sources.
The transportation sector is considered one of the most significant sources of air pollution in large cities worldwide, and vehicle emissions contribute to about a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In Iran, passenger cars are the leading emitters of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds, while heavy trucks produce the highest levels of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The annual cost of deaths caused by PM2.5 exposure in Iran was estimated to be around 110,713 million US dollars, nearly 3.7% of the country's GDP in 2018.
Iran's geographical location is suitable for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, but low-cost fossil fuel resources and insufficient infrastructure, investment, and technology have hindered the development of these alternatives. The country's economic status and insufficient regulatory enforcement have also posed challenges to implementing effective emissions reduction strategies.
Some efforts have been made to address vehicle emissions in Iran. The Clean Air Act, introduced in 2017, aimed to improve fuel standards and overhaul the country's aging transportation network. However, the act was cast aside during a winter with natural gas shortages. Additionally, plans are in place to replace the existing public transportation fleet with buses and cars running on natural gas, and solutions such as traffic management, vehicle inspection, and the use of electric bicycles are also being considered.
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Environmental degradation
Iran has experienced environmental degradation due to various factors, including industrialization, population growth, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how long Iran has been polluted, the country has faced environmental issues for several decades, and the situation continues to be a cause for concern.
One of the significant contributors to Iran's environmental degradation is air pollution, particularly in large cities such as Tehran, the capital. Tehran is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities, with air quality often deteriorating to hazardous levels. The main sources of air pollution in Tehran are vehicular emissions and industrial activities, with motorcycles contributing significantly to both air and sound pollution. In 2019, Tehran recorded its highest air pollution index of 181, indicating a severe level of air pollution.
Iran's environmental issues extend beyond air pollution. The country faces water scarcity due to high climatic variability, uneven water distribution, over-exploitation of water resources, and a focus on economic development. Industrial and urban wastewater runoff has contaminated rivers and coastal waters, further exacerbating water-related challenges. Additionally, Iran struggles with soil erosion, with a rate that is 2.5 times the world average, according to a 2017 report.
The country also faces challenges with waste management. While Iran has made efforts to dispose of waste hygienically, an estimated 50,000 tons of trash is produced daily, and not all of it is managed properly. Furthermore, Iran produces over 8 million tons of hazardous waste annually, as of 2016. The expansion of industry and agriculture has led to the destruction of wetlands and freshwater bodies, and oil and chemical spills have harmed aquatic life in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.
Iran has taken some steps to address its environmental issues. The government has implemented air pollution control programs in Tehran and other cities, aiming to reduce the release of harmful chemicals. Additionally, Iran is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, although it has not ratified the Doha Amendment or the Paris Agreement. While these efforts are commendable, effective implementation and enforcement of regulations remain crucial to combat environmental degradation in Iran.
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Frequently asked questions
Iran has been facing environmental issues for decades, with a Department of Environment in place since 1971. However, the country's pollution problems have intensified in recent years due to various factors.
The main sources of pollution in Iran include vehicle emissions, refinery operations, industrial effluents, and factory emissions. The burning of fossil fuels and the expansion of industry and agriculture also contribute to the country's environmental issues.
Tehran, the capital city of Iran, is consistently ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. It often experiences high levels of smog and air pollution, with harmful effects on human health.
The Iranian government has implemented various measures to combat pollution, including air pollution control programs in Tehran and Arak, encouraging the use of compressed natural gas for taxis and buses, and raising awareness about the hazards of pollution. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been questioned.
Pollution in Iran has severe health consequences for its citizens, particularly in large cities. It contributes to increased respiratory illnesses, pulmonary diseases, and other chronic conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that urban air pollution increases the risk of acute respiratory diseases and chronic illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
