An estimation of traffic related CO ₂ emissions from motor vehicles in the capital city of, Iran

Abstract

Vehicle exhaust is a major source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO ₂₎ in metropolitan cities. Popular community mode (buses and taxies) and about 2.4 million private cars are the main emission sources of air pollution in Tehran. A case survey has conducted to measure CO ₂ in four popular vehicles, bus, taxi, private car and motorcycle, which moved in the city with respectively 7800, 82358, 560000 and 2.4 million per day in 2012. Results indicated that the contribution of CO ₂ emissions increased in the following order: private car, motorcycle, bus and taxi. The overall average for the contribution of CO ₂ emissions in the private car, motorcycle, bus, and taxi were 26372, 1648, 1433 and 374 tons per day, respectively. Our results also showed that the urban transport operation consume an estimated 178 and 4224 million liter diesel and petrol per year, respectively, that have released about 10 million tons of CO ₂. The average contribution of CO ₂ emissions of private cars in Tehran was higher (88%) than other vehicles. It was concluded that high volume of traffic, transport consumption of fossil fuels and shortage of adequate public transport system are responsible for the high CO ₂ level in environment in Tehran. Thus, it is to be expected that CO ₂ as a greenhouse gas has risen in Tehran more than ever in the following years and this would be a matter of concern for the authorities to have a comprehensive plan to mitigate this phenomena.