2.3 - Tehran's Eco Footprint

Question 1

Where is Tehran?

Answer 1

Capital of Iran

Question 2

How bad is the air pollution in Tehran?

Answer 2

Car pollution - 80%
Industrial pollution - 20%
Motorcycles - 30%

Question 3

During what time of year is air pollution the worst in Tehran?

Answer 3

The dry winter months.

Question 4

How many people died because of air pollution in the first 9 months of 2010?

Answer 4

3,600 people - pregnant women, the elderly and those with respiratory problems suffered the most

Question 5

Why is the government so inefficient at combating air pollution in the capital city?

Answer 5

The President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would initially give an impression of concern by closing schools, reducing the numbers of cars on the road during periods of bad pollution etc… But these efforts were always short-lived and ineffective.

Question 6

What industry is the most important, and yet most damaging in Tehran?

Answer 6

The car industry is the most important in Tehran and yet responsible for the most pollution; thus, Tehranis are encouraged to use the small, overcrowded railway, even though car sales are pushed on locals.

Question 7

What are the ‘3 agendas?’

Answer 7

Green, Blue, Brown

Question 8

What is the Green Agenda?

Answer 8

Impact of development on the environment

Question 9

What is the Blue Agenda?

Answer 9

Impact of development on water quality + quantity

Question 10

What is the Brown Agenda?

Answer 10

Impact of development & industrialisation on health of environment; air and sound pollution; industrial accidents impact

Question 11

What are the social factors contributing to the poor air pollution of Tehran?

Answer 11

• 12 million people with 3.1 cars, many without a catalytic converter (and those with a converter are often 20 years old and thus, outdated)
• Mehrabad Industrial Company on the outskirts of the city
• Lots of factories + industry

Question 12

What are the environmental factors contributing to the poor air pollution of Tehran?

Answer 12

Tehran is in a mountain basin, meaning pollution can easily gather and mix in the basin.

Question 13

What are some of the solution to Tehran’s pollution in order to help them develop?

Answer 13

1. Pollution indicator boards
2. National Clean Air Day
3. Masks
4. Underground railway development
5. Installing catalytic converters on ALL cars
6. Air Quality Control Centre
7. WB loan o £20m
8. Dual-fuel cars
9. Switch to renewables

Question 14

What are the short-term economic goals of Tehran?

Answer 14

• Expanding international, free trade

Question 15

What is another short-term economic goal of Tehran?

Answer 15

• More social justice by providing basic necessities to the poor (life people out of poverty)

Question 16

What is another short-term economic goal of Tehran?

Answer 16

• Producing 29m tonnes of steel by 2010 = more jobs, investment, railroad infrastructure

Question 17

What is another short-term economic goal of Tehran?

Answer 17

• Improve education

Question 18

What is an ecological footprint?

Answer 18

The impact of a person on the environment - the amount of land required to sustain their use of resources.

Question 19

What is the name of the man leading Iran’s Green Movement?

Answer 19

Mir Hosein Mousavi

Question 20

What is the name of the newspaper that writes about Iran’s poor air quality?

Answer 20

Ettelaat - they suggested that the poor quality of Iranian-made petrol may have been responsible for emissions.