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According to a report by the World Bank published in April 2018, air pollution in Tehran incurs annual loss of billions of dollars and over 4,000 premature deaths from exposure to fine particles ambient concentrations. Particulate matter (PM), one of the primary pollutants from diesel exhaust, is associated with many different types of respiratory and cardiovascular effects, and premature mortality. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the cost effectiveness of retrofitting existing city diesel bus fleet in Tehran with best available Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) available in the market. The report provides an updated assessment on the diesel retrofit solutions for an ageing diesel city bus fleet in Tehran based on publicly available information. The economic benefits of DPF installed in buses are evaluated with standard techniques of environmental economics, and technological assumptions about how much PM emissions can be avoided and control costs. The report highlights a number of national, regional and local examples of effective emission control program that exhibit best practices from around the world. Also, it presents important features and global experiences of successful retrofit program on heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs), including benefit-cost analysis from several case studies to help Tehran city leadership in taking informed economic and policy decisions. Finally, it recommends a set of critical actions to the government both at the national and local level for implementation of an effective emission control programs.

Energy storage is particularly well suited to developing countries’ power system needs. Developing countries frequently feature weak grids. These are characterized by poor security of supply, driven by a combination of insufficient, unreliable and inflexible generation capacity, underdeveloped or nonexistent grid infrastructure, a lack of adequate monitoring and controlequipment, and a lack of skilled human resources and adequate maintenance. In this context,energy storage can help enhance reliability. Deployed together with VRE, it can help displacecostly and polluting generation based on liquid fuels while increasing security of supply.Storage can also help defer and/or avoid the construction of new grid infrastructure

Energy efficiency is among the cheapest, cleanest, and most widely available of energy resources. Improved energy efficiency provides opportunities to sustainably expand energy services and support development and economic growth, contributing to higher living standards, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In developing countries, where demand for energy is growing rapidly, the potential for energy efficiency improvements is significant, particularly in the residential sector. The purpose of this guide is to raise awareness of behavioral approaches to achieving development outcomes, demonstrate the role that behavioral sciences can play in promoting energy efficiency, and provide guidance on how to integrate behavior change approaches into projects.

The Country Opinion Survey in Swaziland assists the World Bank Group (WBG) in gaining a better understanding of how stakeholders in Swaziland perceive the WBG. It provides the WBG with systematic feedback from national and local governments, multilateral/bilateral agencies, media, academia, the private sector, and civil society in Swaziland on 1) their views regarding the general environment in Swaziland; 2) their overall attitudes toward the WBG in Swaziland; 3) overall impressions of the WBG’s effectiveness and results, knowledge work and activities, and communication and information sharing in Swaziland; and 4) their perceptions of the WBG’s future role in Swaziland.

The objective of the study is to: (i) assess the adequacy of the existing heat and electricity tariff levels for achieving financial viability of the energy sector operators; (ii) analyze the distributional implications of energy tariff increases; and (iii) assess the effectiveness of the existing social assistance programs and how to adjust them to mitigate the impact of energy tariff increase on the poor This report presents the key findings and recommendations for the Government of Moldova as well as other energy sector stakeholders. The report starts with a synopsis that summarizes the key findings and recommendations. The main report section starts with an introduction to country context, presents the design of tariff setting methodologies, and assesses the adequacy of tariffs based on constructed scenarios. Thereafter analysis of the distributional impact of projected range of tariff increases and the need to adjust the social assistance programs to mitigate the impact on the poor are presented. The report concludes with recommendations for the government on actions to be implemented on tariff setting methodologies and social assistance as well as areas for further research. Appendices include further background information of the analysis.

Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH. Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH.

The report identifies viable and low-carbon energy sources that would help cement producers satisfy their growing energy demand. For the first time, mapped, quantified, and analyzedco-processing in Egypt. It also identified the current and future appetite for alternative fuels, highlighted impediments to market growth, and recommended potential solutions throughout the supply chain. This study makes that point clear, and encourages producers, officials, and other stakeholders to find greener ways to help Egypt’s cement industry grow. The successful use of alternative fuels for the cement industry brings with it potentially significant public and private benefits. The use of Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR) can reduce landfilling, lower carbon emissions by substituting the use of coal, reduce public costs for waste management, and potentially transform waste from a public nuisance into a privatizedand lucrative solution. The benefits make the investment more than worth the effort.Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR) are any non-fossil based fuels that can replace part of the raw material needed for the production of cement, whether it is used for thermal energy or material recovery. These alternative fuels are derived from waste material, which is plentiful in Egypt. The main objective of this study will be to examine in detail the financial viability, economic competitiveness, technical feasibility and other benefits of AFR for the cement industry. This report will consider four types of AFR waste streams: a) refuse derived fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste, b) dried sewage sludge (DSS) from wastewater treatment plants, c) agricultural waste, and d)tire derived fuel (TDF) from scrap tires. These waste streams have been selected since they meet three essential criteria defined after extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders. Those are: 1) suitability for use by the Egyptian cement industry; 2) abundance, relative availability of data, and proximity to cement producers; and 3) current mismanagement of associated waste streams, leading to negative environmental and health impacts. Conclusions can be drawn largely on the price differential between AFR and conventional fuel, which may depend in large part onEgypt’s energy and waste management policies. Expanded use of alternative fuels will be further stimulated by the introduction of an economic framework around waste disposal and recycling.A more detailed analysis of the existing regulatory framework, future policies needed and international best practices will also be elaborated upon. Based on the assessment of the energy situation in Egypt, the cement industry’s thermal energy needs, and the current use of AFR, a realistic energy mix scenario will be developed. This will also involve a comparison of the energetic (calorific) value of the various energy sources, potential volumes available, and the cost structure. This study aims to provide a reference for the cement industry, waste processing companies, and Egyptian authorities, helping them to understand and identify responsible and sustainable approaches tothe selection and use of AFR in the cement industry in a transparent and sustainable manner.

Political uncertainties in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to affect the short term economic prospects in the region, while major developments in the global economy over the past six months have put the region on a two-track growth path for 2012. These developments include a significant rise in crude oil prices on fears of oil supply disruptions and weak economic activity in the Eurozone. Economic growth of MENA's oil exporting countries will be strong as it rebounds from the average of 3.4 percent in 2011 to 5.4 percent in 2012. Overall growth in the region is expected to be 4.8 percent in 2012, surpassing the 3 percent growth achieved in 2011. Improvement in the growth prospects of oil exporters is due to strength in oil markets. The fiscal situation is expected to remain tenuous for oil importing countries, especially those going through transitions. Overall, inflation is expected to remain subdued in 2012, with the notable exceptions of Iran and Egypt. Subsidies are currently dampening currently dampening the effects of increased global food and energy prices in many MENA countries.

Carbon leakage is much discussed in carbon pricing policy. Stakeholders, especially emissions-intensive industries, have expressed concern about the implications of carbon pricing when they compete with firms located in jurisdictions without equivalent policies. This technical note provides an overview of the issue of carbon leakage, discussing the theory, evidence and policy design. This issue is of interest to a range of PMR countries and is of great importance to successful design and implementation of carbon pricing policies. The technical note addresses three broad questions: – How to evaluate the expected competitiveness and carbon leakage impacts (negative and positive) due to carbon pricing policies for different sectors and the entire economy? – How to mitigate the risk of negative impacts and strengthen the positive impacts (through instrument design or complementary policies) in the short and long term, and for different levels of expected decarbonization? – How to manage the process of dialogue between a government, business and civil society on the implications for competitiveness and risks of carbon leakage, and their mitigation? It draws lessons from policymaking experience and academic evidence to provide guidance to countries on how to address issues of carbon leakage as they arise in their national contexts.

Despite policy efforts in recent decades, deforestation remains a pervasive phenomenon in Brazil. Yet deforestation is not only affected by forest governance. It is also driven by global demand for commodities and the relative competitiveness of agriculture, which in turn depends on macroeconomic factors impacting product and factor prices. These macroeconomic mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This paper explores the role of economic productivity in shaping deforestation. It uses an economic model with an empirically founded land use extension to study the macro-structural drivers of land use patterns in Brazil’s Legal Amazon. It demonstrates that productivity gains in the Legal Amazon’s agriculture sector increase deforestation, while such gains in non-land intensive sectors (such as manufacturing) reduce deforestation by attenuating the relative competitiveness of agriculture. Higher productivity in other parts of Brazil also reduces incentives for forest conversion in the Legal Amazon. The paper points to the economic forces that forest protection efforts need to counter, while calling for complementary structural reforms to overcome “Brazilian disease” in the longer-term: addressing the legacy of import substitution industrialization and moving up the value chain will shift economic drivers beyond commodities, thus also reconciling development with standing forests.