JICA pledges $7m to address Tehran’s air pollution

TEHRAN — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged $7 million to tackle the everlasting air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran, IRIB reported on Monday.

‘Mass public transit a solution to Tehran air pollution, traffic jam’

TEHRAN — The expansion of mass public transit fleet is a fundamental solution to the persisting air pollution and traffic congestion in the metropolis of Tehran, councilor Mohsen Hashemi said.

Vehicle inspection system becomes stricter

TEHRAN – Cars are now being checked up stricter in vehicle inspection centers across the country with a focus on catalyst inspection and emissions control, the deputy chief of Iran’s Department of Environment said.

Tehraners to pay taxi fares electronically

TEHRAN — People in the city of Tehran will be able to pay taxi fares electronically by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2018).

Clean air bill projected to create 10,000 green jobs

TEHRAN — The clean air bill, proposed by the Department of Environment to curb air pollution, is projected to generate some 10,000 green jobs over the course of the sixth five-year national development plan (2016-2021), an environmental official said.

HOVs to ease traffic congestion, air pollution in Tehran

TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality is planning on introducing high-occupancy vehicle lanes in two of the expressways in the capital with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.

Tehran experiences good air quality for 20 days in a row

TEHRAN — Tehran’s air quality has been good since April 16 and fortunately cars could not negatively affect the air quality for the last 20 days, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Tehrani citizens waste 200 hours per year in traffic: councilor

TEHRAN – Tehrani citizens waste an overall 200 hours per year of their life in traffic congestion, the head of environment committee of the City Council of Tehran has said.

Clean air bill: Responsible bodies assigned to combat pollution

TEHRAN — Following the approval of general outlines of the clean air bill on October 23, 2016, Majlis (the parliament) has tasked responsible organizations and executive bodies with combating and eliminating air pollution.

Dept. of Environment authorized to shut down pollutant industries

TEHRAN — The Department of Environment has been authorized to shut down pollutant industries worsening the effects of air pollution in metropolises of the country, Nasimonline reported.

Environment dept. disapprove of new vehicle inspection law

TEHRAN — The deputy chief of the Department of Environment has voiced his objection to the newly approved vehicle inspection law mandating the reduction of five-year interval for vehicle inspection to four years.

Tehran enjoys excellent air quality for 7 days

TEHRAN — Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (Mar. 21) Tehran have enjoyed seven days of excellent air quality, Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

New subway lines to become operational

TEHRAN — Three new subway lines will be fully operational by summer, the managing director of Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company said on Friday.

Charity foundation completes afforestation programs

TEHRAN — Barekat charity foundation has completed afforestation programs on the outskirt of Tehran province which will be implemented as of today, IRIB reported.

There exist over 1.2m clunkers nationwide, says MP

TEHRAN — There are some 1.25 clunkers in Iran, MP Hamidreza Fouladgar said, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday.

Ebtekar urges Iraq to join hands with Iran to tackle dust storms

TEHRAN — The chief of Iran’s Department of Environment has urged Iraq to take effective measures to get the grips with dust storms in collaboration with Iran.

Tehran subway greatly helps cut harmful emission: CEO

TEHRAN — Tehran subway system had a significant part in reducing air pollution in the capital during the past years of its daily operation.

Tehran taking steps toward green transportation

TEHRAN — Tehran is gradually taking steps toward establishing green transportation in crowded neighborhoods by unveiling hybrid and electric vehicles and bikes.

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

Green tax should help expand environmental infrastructure: official

TEHRAN — Municipalities should spend taxes collected from pollutant industries to develop environmental infrastructure in cities, deputy director of Iran's Department of Environment Saeed Motesaddi said on Sunday.

Motorcycles to be subjected to tougher traffic restrictions

TEHRAN — Tehran City Council is planning on tightening traffic restrictions on motorcycles in the capital by March 2017, ISNA news agency reported.

Altering school calendar, an escape route from air pollution

TEHRAN — The persistent air pollution in metropolises of Iran has lately urged officials to discuss the possibility of altering school calendar.

Vehicle inspection effective way to mitigate air pollution, Ebtekar says

TEHRAN — Launching of the nationally integrated vehicle inspection system is an effective measure employed to mitigate air pollution particularly in metropolises, chief of the Department of Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar has said.

By Shirin Hakim and Kaveh Madani

Dreaming of blue skies: Tehran’s battle for clean air

A deep-seated look at the perplexing love-hate relationship Iranians share with their alarmingly polluted capital city

Tehran’s wet streets provide temporary relief to millions who have been tolerating unbearable levels of pollution. In today’s Tehran, precipitation is associated with romanticism and blessings, washing away polluted skies briefly before reality sets in again. Pollution has plagued Iran’s capital for years, manifesting in various health problems amongst locals, closing of schools, and transforming daily activities into questions of life and death.

UNDP, UN Environment hold sand and dust storm side event at COP22

TEHRAN — The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) jointly with the United Nations Environment held a side event on the sand and dust storms at Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakech, November 7 to 18, 2016.

Picture of the day

President Hassan Rouhani and his entourage took the subway to get to the city of Karaj, 45km west of Tehran, on Wednesday. The president’s clever move might be aiming at encouraging people to use public transportation as air quality indices have hit dangerous levels and white-brown smog has covered both cities for almost a week now.

Polluting air amounts to stewardship in murder: lawyer

TEHRAN – A lawyer has said polluting the air amounts to the position of stewardship over the act of murder.

Tehran fights for breath, officials pass the buck

TEHRAN — While air pollution in Tehran has reached critical levels for seven days in a row officials keep shifting the blame onto each other.

Cars choke Tehran 

TEHRAN – With the arrival of cold season a blanket of choking brown-white smog has descended on Tehran, Hamshahri Online reported.

Thousands of artists appeal to president for tackling air pollution

TEHRAN — More than 5,700 Iranian artists issued an appeal to President Hassan Rouhani urging him to take serious measures to address air pollution in the country.