Problem overview:
Awareness and visions: The people of Tehran have been made aware of environmental problems in the city and agreed that counter measures are needed. That is why command and control has been very effective, because the people gave support and cooperation.
Policies and measures: Iran made significant progress in improving the quality of air by reducing emissions and traffic. Improving public transport, parking, and green zones were beneficial measures that worked in concert with the command and control policies.
Background in summary:
Pollution generated from transportation: Tehran, by its own admission, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The Municipality has undertaken several initiatives to improve physical infrastructure and management of urban transport operations.
Strategies for reducing pollution: The strategy centers on the reduction of carbon monoxide emissions by the following actions:
- Tehran Municipality will convert 1,500 diesel-fuelled buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
- The Municipality also enforces a mandatory emission inspection and control program for motor vehicles permitted to enter the city's Restricted Traffic Zone (RTZ).
- The RTZ was established in 1983 to reduce traffic in the city centre.
- Lanes have been specifically designated for buses. As a result, urban bus services, including ridership and average trip time, have increased in the last three years by thirty-five percent.
- A Park and Ride facility with a capacity of 200 cars has also increased bus ridership.
Development of Green space to filter air: The air pollution problem has put the development of green space on the list of priorities for Tehran. Since 1989, the green space per person has increased from 2.5 square meters to 10 square meters in 1993.
For a different perspective on Tehran air pollution abatement programme, see also The Black Skies of Tehran and the Air Quality Control Company
See document in full
Good practice rating:
(1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score) |
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Sustainability
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Efficiency
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| 2 |
 Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other. |
3 |
Cost efficient. |
| 2 |
Sustainable over time (not one-off) |
Process |
| Adaptability |
2 |
Participation of the community |
| 3 |
Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?) |
2 |
Participation of resource owners/users |
| 3 |
Socio-cultural adaptability. |
- |
Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private) |
| 3 |
Level of development adaptability. |
- |
Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments. |
| 2 |
Style of government adaptability. |
3 |
Ability to attract political interest/support |
| 3 |
Degree of decentralization adaptability. |
3 |
Procedures for feedback and review. |
Comments on this example:
- Emission from motor vehicles contributes to the total GHG emitted into the earths atmosphere. The way to reduce air pollution is to reduce emission from the sources and increase the carrying capacity of the sink. Fuel switching from diesel to more environmental friendly ones, such as unleaded Benzene or Compressed Natural gas is one alternative for reducing the source. An alternative for increasing the sink is to increase what is so called, Green Area.
- It is important match policy with technology and to add positive incentives to complement punitive command and control measures.
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Sustainability of the project:
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Awareness and visions:
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Adaptability of the project to other situations:
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Style of Government adaptability: Setting standards for emission is one step towards pollution abatement. Effective monitoring system is required. Expenses from hiring officers and equipment for inspection of motor vehicles becomes higher as the regulation becomes tighter. If the government is willing to provide budget, it is likely that the policy will work well. However, different governments have different priorities.
| Process of decision making and implementation: |
Policies and measures:
- Command and control is effective, providing the population is aware of the problem and agrees it is needed and the subject lends itself to ready monitoring and enforcement. Iran made significant progress in improving the quality of air by reducing emissions and traffic. Improving public transport, parking, and green zones were beneficial measures that worked in concert with the command and control policies. Therefore if the government can create awareness among the people then command and control measures could be conveniently carried out because of cooperation received from the general public.
- Air pollution abatement through control of traffic, reduction of emissions and improved public transport is priority issues for many countries in the region. This mixture of Command and Control and incentives are having significant success.
- Problems with cities when increasing green space is that all the spaces have been occupied. In order to set up a green space, relocation of previous land owners is required, in which, conflict might arise because the land owners do not want to be relocated.
Cost efficient: Irans policies to reduce air pollution and increase green space will acquire a huge budget because major changes to public transportation services, infrastructure and town planning will be carried out.
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Documentation: |
Literature or other written project review references
The Black Skies of Tehran and the Air Quality Control Company
San'at Haml-o-Naghl: Publication of the Transport Industry (Monthly)
May 1995,
Vol. 14, No. 158
Page: 55-56
By: Mehrdad Khalily
Word Count: 1950
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Source of Information: |
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Contacts: |
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Submitted by: |
Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis
Assistant Professor
Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
Mumbai, India
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