Does the government have a plan to deal with air pollution?
In a situation where Tehran has entered the second week of massive pollution, the government seems to have no other plan to deal with the toxic particles of metropolises, especially Tehran, except for occasional closures and hoping for rain and wind.
Khodrocar - In the meantime, the removal of used cars as the most important source of air pollution can be a shortcut to solve the pollution problems of big cities. This is in a situation where the parliament and the government have not yet reached a clear solution in this regard. Using the global model, "World Economy" has examined the way to reduce the emission of big cities like Beijing.The air in the country's metropolises, especially Tehran, has shown its dark side to the citizens these days, and as usual, cars are mentioned as the main culprits of this crisis, and the government, apart from occasional closures and hoping for wind and rain, seems to have another plan to deal with it.
Since the car is known to be one of the culprits of air pollution, the policy makers are responsible for solving this problem, but from an unconventional way. Based on this, car manufacturers are required to scrap used cars, an issue that is currently being debated. With the establishment of the 11th Parliament, the plan to organize the automobile industry was approved in 1400 and announced in June 1401.
According to one of the clauses of this law, in addition to car importers, manufacturers (automakers) are also required to scrap one vehicle for every 4 products produced. Of course, this law has encountered problems in implementation, and because the numbering of cars was tied to scrapping, car manufacturers demanded to change the law.
In the following, it was agreed that instead of scrapping, the car manufacturers should deposit an amount to a certain account for the production of each product. This amount was initially 1.5% and later it was planned to be increased, but on the day when the parliament was going to determine its task, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Head of the parliament, referred the proposed plan to the Industries and Mines Commission for further investigation.
In the following, it was agreed that instead of scrapping, the car manufacturers should deposit an amount to a certain account for the production of each product. This amount was initially 1.5% and later it was planned to be increased, but on the day when the parliament was going to determine its task, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Head of the parliament, referred the proposed plan to the Industries and Mines Commission for further investigation.
It seems that the speaker's argument is that making money for scrapping by car manufacturers does not have the necessary efficiency in order to decommission cars. Currently, there is no news about the fate of this project and apparently, considering the current conditions of air pollution, the parliamentarians do not consider it expedient to exempt car manufacturers from scrapping and monetizing it.
On the other hand, car manufacturers say that car companies are not in charge of scrapping anywhere in the world, and it is the government that should get involved in this issue. Whatever it is, currently, in the middle of the dispute between car manufacturers and politicians, it is the air pollution that is rampant especially in the big cities and is suffocating the citizens. Usually, every year on these days and following the phenomenon of air inversion, suspended particles, which depending on their concentration can be dangerous and even fatal for the public, are located at a very low altitude and make citizens suffocate.
These suspended particles can be divided into two categories; One is inhalable coarse particles (PM 10), which include suspended particles in the vicinity of roads or productive industries and whose diameter is larger than 2.5 microns and smaller than 10 microns. Another is fine particles (PM 2.5) that are found in smoke and smog and have a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. These particles either enter the air directly from sources such as forest fires or are formed in the air as a result of the reaction of exhaust gases from power plants, industries and cars.
According to these definitions, when the inversion phenomenon occurs and air pollution is in critical conditions, non-worn passenger cars play a small role in this story, but worn-out cars, especially heavy models, have a significant contribution to air pollution in metropolises. This is due to the fact that in general, the contribution of cars, especially old ones, in air pollution is undeniable, and in many countries, they have gone to modify the fuel of cars (as one of the main bottlenecks of pollution production) to solve the pollution crisis. The root of this electric car revolution, which has been formed in the past decade, is directly related to the issue of air pollution, and many countries follow the "zero carbon" policy because of this story. According to the latest statistics, what is currently referred to as air pollution are mostly suspended particles, 70% of which are caused by cars.
According to these definitions, when the inversion phenomenon occurs and air pollution is in critical conditions, non-worn passenger cars play a small role in this story, but worn-out cars, especially heavy models, have a significant contribution to air pollution in metropolises. This is due to the fact that in general, the contribution of cars, especially old ones, in air pollution is undeniable, and in many countries, they have gone to modify the fuel of cars (as one of the main bottlenecks of pollution production) to solve the pollution crisis. The root of this electric car revolution, which has been formed in the past decade, is directly related to the issue of air pollution, and many countries follow the "zero carbon" policy because of this story. According to the latest statistics, what is currently referred to as air pollution are mostly suspended particles, 70% of which are caused by cars.
In the disaggregated mode, passenger cars have a smaller share compared to trucks and buses; According to the table published by Tehran Municipality, rides contribute 1.4% in pollution. Meanwhile, the main fault lies with heavy vehicles with a share of 22.4%. These cars cause a lot of pollution, especially since a significant part of them is worn out and naturally they create many times more pollution than a new car.
On the other hand, private sector buses also contribute 18.2% to air pollution, and by the way, this fleet also suffers from the problem of wear and tear. Also, public city buses play a role of 12.6% in the air pollution of big cities, especially the capital. Besides these, motorcycles also play a role in air pollution with a share of 10.5%, minibuses with a share of 4.2% and taxis with a share of 1%.
On the other hand, private sector buses also contribute 18.2% to air pollution, and by the way, this fleet also suffers from the problem of wear and tear. Also, public city buses play a role of 12.6% in the air pollution of big cities, especially the capital. Besides these, motorcycles also play a role in air pollution with a share of 10.5%, minibuses with a share of 4.2% and taxis with a share of 1%.
According to these statistics, long-term pollution control can be achieved through several general paths. In the meantime, the weakness of the laws (both in the policy-making and implementation areas) plays a very important role in the pollution crisis in the country, and if it were not for this weakness, all the lead and suspended particles would not have reached the citizens' lungs. It seems that the solution to get out of the air pollution crisis is better to follow two policy paths in the sector of equipping cars with new standards and also practical measures in the field of removing worn out cars. Of course, these two paths are proposed with the assumption that the gasoline is standardized, and if the distributed gasoline is not of good quality, contrary to the statements of the oil officials, then of course its standardization should also be on the agenda.
In the policy sector, by passing laws or insisting on the implementation of the approvals related to the car emission system (especially in the Clean Air Law, which emphasizes the improvement of car emission standards), the ground for the production of cleaner products can be provided. Right now, the world is moving towards the elimination of fossil fuel cars, and according to the plans, most of the domestic car manufacturers are going to be completely electric in the next decade. This is despite the fact that Iran's automotive industry does not currently have a specific written plan to switch from gasoline and diesel products and produce electric models.
In the policy sector, by passing laws or insisting on the implementation of the approvals related to the car emission system (especially in the Clean Air Law, which emphasizes the improvement of car emission standards), the ground for the production of cleaner products can be provided. Right now, the world is moving towards the elimination of fossil fuel cars, and according to the plans, most of the domestic car manufacturers are going to be completely electric in the next decade. This is despite the fact that Iran's automotive industry does not currently have a specific written plan to switch from gasoline and diesel products and produce electric models.
On the other hand, the scrapping of used cars, especially in the heavy products sector (buses and trucks) will also play a very important role in reducing air pollution. Worn-out cars, especially in the so-called heavy models, consume several and maybe several times more fuel and produce emissions than non-worn ones; Therefore, by scrapping and replacing them, both fuel consumption will be saved and the amount of pollution will be reduced.
The world's confrontation with the pollution giant
But air pollution is considered a global phenomenon, and therefore in many countries, especially industrial ones, many measures have been taken in these years to reduce the amount of pollution, especially from cars. In the scientific definition, air pollution refers to the presence of suspended particles in the air that do not belong to the earth's atmosphere or contain excessive amounts of specific impurities and are considered a serious threat to human health. For example, cars that burn gasoline release pollutants in the surrounding environment along with the smoke they produce and cause air pollution.
According to global research, cars emit three main pollutants, which include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. "Particulate matter" is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, which contribute to atmospheric fog and can seriously damage people's lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide (CO) also comes from the smoke of cars that use fossil fuels. Breathing air with a high concentration of carbon monoxide affects vital organs such as the heart and brain. According to the report of the Environmental Protection Agency, 95% of carbon monoxide emissions in cities are caused by the exhaust of motor vehicles.
But air pollution is considered a global phenomenon, and therefore in many countries, especially industrial ones, many measures have been taken in these years to reduce the amount of pollution, especially from cars. In the scientific definition, air pollution refers to the presence of suspended particles in the air that do not belong to the earth's atmosphere or contain excessive amounts of specific impurities and are considered a serious threat to human health. For example, cars that burn gasoline release pollutants in the surrounding environment along with the smoke they produce and cause air pollution.
According to global research, cars emit three main pollutants, which include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. "Particulate matter" is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, which contribute to atmospheric fog and can seriously damage people's lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide (CO) also comes from the smoke of cars that use fossil fuels. Breathing air with a high concentration of carbon monoxide affects vital organs such as the heart and brain. According to the report of the Environmental Protection Agency, 95% of carbon monoxide emissions in cities are caused by the exhaust of motor vehicles.
Finally, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is also produced as a result of burning fossil fuel and from the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen dioxide is the result of greenhouse gas emissions from things like cars, trucks, buses and power plants. Breathing air with a high concentration of nitrogen dioxide can have a destructive effect on the respiratory system.
According to the "Sustainable Improvement of Freight and Passenger Transportation" report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2021, transportation has the most reliance on fossil fuels among other sectors and accounted for 37% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions in 2021. Although transportation was one of the sectors that was more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than other sectors, but during the recovery period and with the resumption of activities at the previous level, the emission of greenhouse gases followed an increasing trend. Despite the increasing demand for alternative fuels, the market for these fuels is still limited. Statistics show that the growth in demand for alternative fuels is significant in developing economies.
Among countries struggling with air pollution, the Chinese government's efforts to improve air quality led to a clear-sky campaign called "Beijing Blue." According to the announcement of the International Olympic Committee, China spent 21 billion dollars to improve air quality to fulfill its obligations in the 2000 bid; including upgrading 60,000 coal-fired boilers and burning more than 4,000 public buses with gas.
Among countries struggling with air pollution, the Chinese government's efforts to improve air quality led to a clear-sky campaign called "Beijing Blue." According to the announcement of the International Olympic Committee, China spent 21 billion dollars to improve air quality to fulfill its obligations in the 2000 bid; including upgrading 60,000 coal-fired boilers and burning more than 4,000 public buses with gas.
According to the report of the United Nations Environment Program, China's tangible achievements have enabled the country to achieve a historic victory in this field and create a "sustainable environmental legacy". According to the figures reported by this institution, China's carbon pollution in 2020 was 48.4% less than in 2005. This statistic shows that China has fulfilled its commitment to the international community to reduce carbon emissions by 40-45% compared to the level of 2005 to 2020.
But besides these, the world's movement towards the production of electric cars is also considered as another global solution to solve the air pollution crisis. According to reports released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), sales of electric vehicles hit another record in 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain challenges, including semiconductor chip shortages. About 120,000 electric cars were sold worldwide in 2012, while in 2021, this number will be sold within a week.
But besides these, the world's movement towards the production of electric cars is also considered as another global solution to solve the air pollution crisis. According to reports released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), sales of electric vehicles hit another record in 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain challenges, including semiconductor chip shortages. About 120,000 electric cars were sold worldwide in 2012, while in 2021, this number will be sold within a week.
After the increase in demand in 2020 despite the stagnation in the car market, sales of electric vehicles, including battery-powered models (BEV) and hybrid vehicles (PHEV), almost doubled and reached 6.6 million in 2021. Now the number of active electric cars in the world reaches more than 16.5 million units. As in previous years, all-electric models have accounted for the largest increase (around 70%). China and Europe together accounted for more than 85% of the global sales of electric vehicles in 2021, followed by America with 10%. According to statistics, the sale of electric cars has more than doubled since 2020 and reached 630,000 units.
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