healthier, happier and richer

Total national greenhouse gas emissions

< 1%.

However, UNDP recognises that Iran has a particular significance:

“Iran is currently a major contributor to the overall global emissions of GHGs due to its high energy intensity and high share of fossil fuels in its energy sector. Significantly also, Iran is acutely vulnerable to the effects of global climate change with increasing incidences of droughts and floods being in evidence.”

(See UNDP: Second Communciation to the UNFCCC.)

Historical contribution – 1850 to 2000

< 1%

Change in annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990

This is not available. However, the first communication from Iran to UNFCC, submitted in 2003, stated that it expected total annual greenhouse emissions to increase 47% from 1994 levels by 2010 (see UNDP: Initial National Communication to UNFCCC). The second national communication is currently being prepared.

2005 per capita annual greenhouse gas emissions

8.2 tonnes

Balance of energy sources, 2006

	%
Gas	51.5
Oil	46
Hydro	1
Coal	0.75
Renewables	0.5

Energy security

Iran is self-sufficient in energy. It has the second largest known gas reserves in the world (after Russia) and the third largest known oil reserves (after Saudi Arabia and Canada).

“The country has also coal and Uranium resources…But in regard to the existing technologies, only 10 percent of these [coal] resources are exploitable and at much higher cost than that of the international level. That is why coal plays only a minor role in Iran’s energy supply mix and it is not regarded a viable option in foreseeable future.”

(See IAEA: Islam Republic of Iran.)

Electricity generated, 2006

	%
Gas	74
Oil	17
Hydro	9

Installed wind capacity

2008               82Mw

Electricity – supply and demand

“Iran seeks to increase its installed capacity by roughly 10 percent annually, keeping in line with its projected 7-9 percent annual demand growth.”

(See EIA: Iran: Electricity.)

Cars per thousand of population

23