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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

A theoretical and empirical model is developed to analyze the effect of a biodiesel mandate, a tax exemption (tax credit) and an exogenous diesel price shock on world soybean and canola markets. The jointness in crushing oil and meal from the oilseed reduces the size of the link between biodiesel and oilseed prices. A diesel price shock with a mandate results in a smaller change in oilseed prices compared with a tax exemption. Higher diesel prices increase biodiesel prices under a tax exemption but lower them with a blend mandate. When both canola and soybeans are used to produce biodiesel, an increase in the diesel price leads to higher canola prices, but the effect on soybean prices is ambiguous and depends on relative elasticities of meal demand and canola supply because canola produces more oil than soybeans.

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 ninth Sustainable Development Goal advises countries to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Industry has historically been one of the most important pillars of economic and social development, but traditional resource-intensive and heavily polluting production is no longer sustainable in the face of climate change. If the path of industrial growth is not redirected immediately and effectively, reaching the target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below two degrees celsius, will become unrealizable. The good news is that recent practices demonstrate how industry could be a big part of the solution for climate mitigation and inclusive, sustainable development. The unprecedented task presented in Paris, to decarbonize, globally introduces challenges but also enormous opportunities for industries as they seek a greener path to production while remaining globally competitive. This report helps chart that path to industrial competitiveness through policy and technology interventions that improve industrial operations. At the same time it explores ways that industrial products can become greener through public standards while companies and countries maintain, and even increase, competitiveness. The information is directed toward government leaders, policy makers, and multilateral institutions in the fields of energy, climate mitigation, and sustainable development. The report’s recommendations to policy makers are based on comprehensive case studies and quantitative and qualitative analyses.

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.