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Energy Consumption
Graph of Iran's energy consumption 1980-2000 A major factor behind the suffocating air pollution in Tehran and other Iranian cities is the dramatic rise in the country's energy consumption. From 1980-1998, Iran's total energy consumption ramped up from 1.6 quadrillion Btu (quads) in 1980 to 4.7 quads in 2000 -- nearly a three-fold increase. Much of this energy is accounted for by gasoline consumption: Tehran's 2 million cars alone use 7 million liters (1.85 million gallons) of gasoline daily. With an abundance of oil in Iran, petroleum products are subsidized, and their cheap cost deprives producers of incentives to make them more fuel-efficient. In May 2002, Iran's deputy oil minister estimated that the government subsidizes gasoline consumption at a cost of several billion dollars per year
Overall, natural gas makes up about 50% of the energy consumed in Iran, with oil (48%) making up much of the rest and coal accounting for only 1%. Per capita energy consumption in 2000 was 73.8 million Btu, which is only one-fifth of the U.S. level of 351.1 million Btu, but is still on the increase. Iran's energy intensity--energy consumption per GDP dollar--at 39,265 Btu/$1995 remains above the level of most Western countries, but below many countries in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East. By way of comparion, US energy intensity in 2000, for instance, was 10,919 Btu/$1995.
Carbon Emissions
Iran's energy-related carbon emissions have been on a steady climb for two decades. Since 1980, carbon emissions in Iran have risen by 240%, from 33.1 million metric tons emitted in 1980 to 80.8 million metric tons emitted in 2000. Graph of Iran's carbon emissions 1980-2000With the growth in Iran's population has come an increasing number of cars, and automobile exhaust has contributed greatly to the fact that Iran now accounts for 1.3% of the world's total carbon emissions.
Iran's per capita carbon emissions are relatively low--at 1.3 metric tons of carbon emitted per person in 2000, Iran is significantly lower than corresponding figure for the United States (5.6) and other industrialized countries. This stems in part from the fact that Iran consumes very little carbon-intensive coal. However, the widespread use of leaded gasoline and the preponderance of cars lacking catalytic converters in Iran accounts for significant levels of carbon monoxide in urban areas. Although authorities have not released pollution statistics for 1999, in 1998, when several thousand schools were shut down, the carbon monoxide pollution in Tehran was more than six times the acceptable level set by the World Health Organization. Iran currently is converting from leaded to unleaded gasoline.
Photo of women protecting themselves against air pollutionThe country's carbon emissions likely will continue to rise until the roots of the problem are addressed. The Green Party of Iran asserts that a shortage of public transport, a rapidly increasing population, and the exorbitant price of new, cleaner cars are the reasons why large numbers of cars lacking pollution-abatement technology remain on the road, despite the health problems they cause. The Green Party argues that Iran needs to support several policy initiatives, including subsidizing the purchase of new, unleaded cars, enforcing emission controls from old cars (Iran is a non-Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, nor is it a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol; therefore, it is not bound to reduce its carbon emissions under the convention), providing more public transportation facilities in line with population growth in Tehran, and increasing green spaces in the city.
Alternative Energy Sources
Iran's renewable energy consumption is low. With 9% of the world's oil reserves and 15% of its natural gas reserves (80% of which have not been developed), Iran has an abundant supply of fossil fuel resources, which tends to discourage the pursuit of alternative, renewable energy sources. Iran's 1997 renewable energy consumption--including hydropower, solar, wind, tide, geothermal, solid biomass and animal products, biomass gas and liquids, and industrial and municipal wastes--totaled 106 trillion Btu, a 6% increase over the previous year.
In an attempt to diversify its energy mix from a primarily oil-based economy, Iran is increasing its hydroelectric capacity. Several hydropower plants are currently in operation, and several more are under construction. In addition, Iran would like to increase its nuclear power usage in order eventually to meet 20% of the country's electricity demand, but international concerns about Iran's use of nuclear power for purposes other than electricity generation have limited the country's nuclear capacity.
Iran in the 21st Century
Rapid population growth over the past 20 years has been a significant factor contributing to Iran's environmental problems, and continued high population growth, combined with continued reliance on fossil fuels and increased car usage, likely will exacerbate these problems. The recent pollution crisis in Iran may serve as a significant catalyst for change, however, forcing Iran into action to protect the health of its citizens.
Iran will need to confront its environmental problems head-on if it is to prevent further pollution crises. In addition to phasing out leaded gasoline and requiring catalytic converters on automobiles, Iran may need to take a more long-term approach towards environmental protection in order to safeguard the health of Iran's cities and citizens. By further developing its gas fields, Iran can use more clean-burning natural gas rather than oil for its energy needs. Reducing Iran's reliance on oil and "petrodollars" will not only help to decrease pollution, but will also help Iran diversify its economy.
Although several of these initiatives will be difficult to achieve if Iran's diplomatic isolation continues, the victory of reform-minded candidates in recent Iranian parliamentary elections eventually may lead to a warming of relations beween Iran and the United States and other countries. Ironically, the pollution problem in Tehran may prove to be beneficial to Iran's environment in the long-run--the health crisis spotlighted the need to act to protect Iran's environment and helped foster support for green groups, while encouraging more public participation in environmental affairs.
Graph of Iran's energy consumption 1980-2000 A major factor behind the suffocating air pollution in Tehran and other Iranian cities is the dramatic rise in the country's energy consumption. From 1980-1998, Iran's total energy consumption ramped up from 1.6 quadrillion Btu (quads) in 1980 to 4.7 quads in 2000 -- nearly a three-fold increase. Much of this energy is accounted for by gasoline consumption: Tehran's 2 million cars alone use 7 million liters (1.85 million gallons) of gasoline daily. With an abundance of oil in Iran, petroleum products are subsidized, and their cheap cost deprives producers of incentives to make them more fuel-efficient. In May 2002, Iran's deputy oil minister estimated that the government subsidizes gasoline consumption at a cost of several billion dollars per year
Overall, natural gas makes up about 50% of the energy consumed in Iran, with oil (48%) making up much of the rest and coal accounting for only 1%. Per capita energy consumption in 2000 was 73.8 million Btu, which is only one-fifth of the U.S. level of 351.1 million Btu, but is still on the increase. Iran's energy intensity--energy consumption per GDP dollar--at 39,265 Btu/$1995 remains above the level of most Western countries, but below many countries in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East. By way of comparion, US energy intensity in 2000, for instance, was 10,919 Btu/$1995.
Carbon Emissions
Iran's energy-related carbon emissions have been on a steady climb for two decades. Since 1980, carbon emissions in Iran have risen by 240%, from 33.1 million metric tons emitted in 1980 to 80.8 million metric tons emitted in 2000. Graph of Iran's carbon emissions 1980-2000With the growth in Iran's population has come an increasing number of cars, and automobile exhaust has contributed greatly to the fact that Iran now accounts for 1.3% of the world's total carbon emissions.
Iran's per capita carbon emissions are relatively low--at 1.3 metric tons of carbon emitted per person in 2000, Iran is significantly lower than corresponding figure for the United States (5.6) and other industrialized countries. This stems in part from the fact that Iran consumes very little carbon-intensive coal. However, the widespread use of leaded gasoline and the preponderance of cars lacking catalytic converters in Iran accounts for significant levels of carbon monoxide in urban areas. Although authorities have not released pollution statistics for 1999, in 1998, when several thousand schools were shut down, the carbon monoxide pollution in Tehran was more than six times the acceptable level set by the World Health Organization. Iran currently is converting from leaded to unleaded gasoline.
Photo of women protecting themselves against air pollutionThe country's carbon emissions likely will continue to rise until the roots of the problem are addressed. The Green Party of Iran asserts that a shortage of public transport, a rapidly increasing population, and the exorbitant price of new, cleaner cars are the reasons why large numbers of cars lacking pollution-abatement technology remain on the road, despite the health problems they cause. The Green Party argues that Iran needs to support several policy initiatives, including subsidizing the purchase of new, unleaded cars, enforcing emission controls from old cars (Iran is a non-Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, nor is it a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol; therefore, it is not bound to reduce its carbon emissions under the convention), providing more public transportation facilities in line with population growth in Tehran, and increasing green spaces in the city.
Alternative Energy Sources
Iran's renewable energy consumption is low. With 9% of the world's oil reserves and 15% of its natural gas reserves (80% of which have not been developed), Iran has an abundant supply of fossil fuel resources, which tends to discourage the pursuit of alternative, renewable energy sources. Iran's 1997 renewable energy consumption--including hydropower, solar, wind, tide, geothermal, solid biomass and animal products, biomass gas and liquids, and industrial and municipal wastes--totaled 106 trillion Btu, a 6% increase over the previous year.
In an attempt to diversify its energy mix from a primarily oil-based economy, Iran is increasing its hydroelectric capacity. Several hydropower plants are currently in operation, and several more are under construction. In addition, Iran would like to increase its nuclear power usage in order eventually to meet 20% of the country's electricity demand, but international concerns about Iran's use of nuclear power for purposes other than electricity generation have limited the country's nuclear capacity.
Iran in the 21st Century
Rapid population growth over the past 20 years has been a significant factor contributing to Iran's environmental problems, and continued high population growth, combined with continued reliance on fossil fuels and increased car usage, likely will exacerbate these problems. The recent pollution crisis in Iran may serve as a significant catalyst for change, however, forcing Iran into action to protect the health of its citizens.
Iran will need to confront its environmental problems head-on if it is to prevent further pollution crises. In addition to phasing out leaded gasoline and requiring catalytic converters on automobiles, Iran may need to take a more long-term approach towards environmental protection in order to safeguard the health of Iran's cities and citizens. By further developing its gas fields, Iran can use more clean-burning natural gas rather than oil for its energy needs. Reducing Iran's reliance on oil and "petrodollars" will not only help to decrease pollution, but will also help Iran diversify its economy.
Although several of these initiatives will be difficult to achieve if Iran's diplomatic isolation continues, the victory of reform-minded candidates in recent Iranian parliamentary elections eventually may lead to a warming of relations beween Iran and the United States and other countries. Ironically, the pollution problem in Tehran may prove to be beneficial to Iran's environment in the long-run--the health crisis spotlighted the need to act to protect Iran's environment and helped foster support for green groups, while encouraging more public participation in environmental affairs.
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