Iran's Air Pollution: Understanding The Root Causes

Iran's air pollution has been described as an air pollution catastrophe by a United Nations special rapporteur. The country's air pollution is caused by a range of factors, including industrialization, urbanization, fuel consumption, and vehicle emissions. The burning of mazut, a low-quality and highly polluting fuel, has significantly contributed to the country's poor air quality. 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 have hindered the development of these alternatives. The Iranian government has been criticized for not doing enough to tackle the problem, with environmental experts emphasizing the need for urgent mitigation strategies.

Industrial development and urbanisation

Iran's air pollution crisis is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including industrial development and urbanisation. The country's economic growth and modernisation have inadvertently contributed to the degradation of its air quality. Here is a detailed examination of how industrial development and urbanisation impact Iran's air pollution situation:

Industrial Development:

• Fuel Consumption and Power Plants: Iran's increasing energy demands have led to a reliance on fuel combustion, particularly low-quality, highly polluting fuels like mazut, which is used to sustain power plants during natural gas shortages. This combustion releases toxic gases, including sulphur dioxide (SO2), contributing to severe health issues and premature deaths.
• Refineries and Factories: In addition to power plants, the emissions from refineries and factories significantly contribute to air pollution in Iran's cities. The concentration of industrial facilities in urban areas exacerbates the problem, impacting the health of residents.
• Vehicle Emissions: The rise in private vehicle ownership, along with a large number of older vehicles on the roads, contributes to air pollution. Poor vehicle maintenance, low-quality fuel, and inadequate road infrastructure further worsen the situation, leading to increased emissions of pollutants.

Urbanisation:

• Population Growth: As Iran's cities expand, the increasing population density contributes to higher pollution levels. More people mean more vehicles, energy consumption, and waste, all of which add to the air pollution problem.
• Infrastructure Challenges: Urbanisation puts pressure on infrastructure, and inadequate infrastructure in urban areas can exacerbate air pollution. This includes issues with road design and traffic management and a lack of efficient public transportation options.
• Health and Social Impacts: The consequences of air pollution are felt most acutely in urban areas. Hospital emergency rooms fill up, schools close, and people struggle to work or even leave their homes due to toxic smog. The social and economic fabric of these cities is affected, and the right to a clean environment and healthy life is compromised.

Addressing the air pollution crisis in Iran requires a multifaceted approach. While industrial development and urbanisation contribute significantly to the problem, sustainable practices, stricter environmental regulations, and a political commitment to prioritising the environment are crucial to mitigating the impacts and improving air quality for Iran's population.

Poor vehicle emissions standards

Iran's air quality has been described as an air pollution "catastrophe" by a United Nations special rapporteur, with a toxic smog causing hospitalisations, school closures, and dangerous conditions for millions of citizens. A leading cause of this is the country's poor vehicle emissions standards.

Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution in Tehran, a city of 8.5 million people. The city has experienced rapid and unplanned urbanisation, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of private vehicles on the road. This has contributed to poor air quality, as emissions from these vehicles contain pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

The Iranian national standard levels for vehicle emissions follow the European Union definitions of certification levels. However, there were no emission standards that were implemented before 2000 in Iran. This means that the country's vehicle fleet consists of a large number of older, more polluting vehicles. For example, the Tehran taxi fleet contains many dual-fuelled gasoline-natural gas vehicles, which, on average, travel 6-8 times more than a privately-owned light-duty vehicle. In addition, the country has been criticised for its continued use of dirty fuels, such as mazut, to power automobiles.

To address these issues, the Clean Air Act was introduced in 2017 to reduce the use of mazut and overhaul the country's aging transportation network. However, due to natural gas shortages in the winter of 2023, the Clean Air Act was not enforced. International sanctions on Iran have also created barriers for researchers trying to collaborate with their peers worldwide and access industry-standard software and equipment. As a result, Iran has struggled to develop and implement effective strategies to improve air quality and reduce vehicle emissions.

Low-quality fuel

The combustion of fuel, particularly low-quality fuel, increases CO2 emissions, which are the primary driver of global warming and climate change. Additionally, the generation of pollutants like NOx, SO2, and PM during fuel combustion further exacerbates air pollution. These pollutants have severe impacts on human health, causing respiratory infections, lung cancer, and cardiovascular issues.

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to air pollution in Iran, with emissions from older vehicles, refineries, power plants, and factories. The use of low-quality fuel in these sectors exacerbates the problem, as it often contains higher levels of harmful substances, such as sulphur and benzene. Moreover, the incomplete combustion of low-quality fuel can lead to the production of toxic gases like carbon monoxide, which is harmful to human health.

To address the issue of low-quality fuel, Iran could consider investing in renewable energy sources. The country has favourable conditions for wind and solar power, with high levels of solar radiation and a substantial number of sunny days annually. By transitioning to cleaner energy sources, Iran can reduce its reliance on low-quality fuel and mitigate the air pollution crisis.

Furthermore, implementing stricter fuel quality standards and regulations is essential. The Canadian government, for example, actively assesses the health risks associated with outdoor air pollutants and establishes fuel quality standards to protect its citizens' health. By taking a proactive approach to fuel quality management, Iran can reduce the harmful effects of low-quality fuel on the environment and public health.

Inadequate infrastructure

The transportation sector is a major emitter of pollutants, with vehicle emissions accounting for about a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In Iran, the use of older vehicles and low-quality fuel, such as mazut, exacerbates the problem. Mazut, a highly polluting fuel, is burned in power plants, contributing to the high levels of particulate matter in the air. The burning of mazut emits toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide, which can lead to severe health issues and even premature death.

Iran's geographical location is favourable for the development of renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar power. However, due to low-cost fossil fuel resources and insufficient infrastructure, investment, and technology, the contribution of renewable energy to electricity generation remains low. This results in a continued reliance on fossil fuels, which contribute to air pollution and climate change through the combustion of fuel and the increase in CO2 emissions.

The lack of adequate infrastructure for air pollution monitoring and control further exacerbates the problem. While many cities in Iran have well-established monitoring stations, international sanctions on the country have created barriers for researchers to collaborate globally and access necessary resources and technologies. This makes it challenging to effectively address the air pollution crisis and implement much-needed mitigation strategies.

Insufficient renewable energy sources

Iran's energy mix is dominated by fossil fuels, with natural gas and oil accounting for about half of its domestic energy consumption. In 2020, the Total Energy Supply (TES) in Iran was derived predominantly from natural gas (69%) and oil (29%), with nuclear power and renewable sources contributing only 1% each. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in widespread air pollution and high greenhouse gas emissions. Iran is the world's largest energy subsidizer, which has led to highly wasteful consumption patterns, price distortions, pollution, and lucrative contraband trade with neighbouring countries.

While Iran has significant potential for renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar power, due to its geographical location near the equator, the contribution of renewable energy to electricity generation remains low. In 2020, renewable energy contributed less than 6.9% of electricity generation, a decrease of 2.9% from 2019. This is due to a combination of low-cost fossil fuel resources, insufficient infrastructure, investment, and technology. For example, Iran's thermal power plants lose a significant percentage of their annual fuel costs due to antiquated and inefficient transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Iran has shown interest in transitioning to a more diverse energy mix, including increasing its solar and wind capacity and encouraging the development of more conventional renewable sources like nuclear and geothermal. This transition is driven by the desire to improve energy security, reduce internal dependence on hydrocarbons, and meet the projected growth in electricity demand. By reducing domestic fuel use, the government can ease its costly subsidies while meeting electrical demand through more sustainable and cost-effective renewable energy sources.

However, Iran faces several challenges in increasing its renewable energy capacity. Firstly, the country has aging or underdeveloped infrastructure, grid integration issues, and a lack of expertise in certain specialized renewable energy technologies. Secondly, international sanctions have created barriers for researchers and limited their ability to collaborate with their peers worldwide and access industry-standard software and equipment. Despite these challenges, Iran has signed agreements with foreign partners to facilitate the development of new infrastructure and production facilities for renewable energy.

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