Scenario analyses to reach smart sustainability in Tehran

Abstract

Abstract The 21st-century provides major challenges to mankind including rapid urbanization, population growth, and socio-economic, physical and environmental pressures. To find an optimal balance between economic growth and environmental protection in modern cities, smart sustainability approach are essential. Here, we aim at introducing the future smart sustainable city (SSC) and investigate scenario projections for reaching such smart sustainability city. Tehran metropolis, as capital of Iran, faced many of the issues mentioned above in the last five decades and is used as case study for our explorations. For this purpose, we evaluated the environmental factors that were most important for environmental sustainability in Tehran. These factors were subsequently incorporated in three scenarios for 2030 being smart sustainable Tehran, uncontrolled Tehran and unsmart and unsustainable Tehran. Also, the results of this study indicate the need for the involvement of Tehran city managers and planners in national issues and challenges to guide them towards useful management and its associated challenges for the Tehran metropolis.