Application of DPSIR Framework for Integrated Environmental Assessment of Urban Areas: A Case Study of Tehran

Investigating urban environmental conditions, informs us about the unsustainability and excessive degradation of ecological context, which result in rising environmental concerns among the society. Classified information about the status and trends of environmental components is needed as a rational tool to help urban sustainable planning and SOER reports can help provide such information. Preparing the state of environment report (SOER) for cities around the world has become a pervasive action and fortunately Tehran is among pioneer cities in this aspect. This research is based on the results of Tehran's second state of environment report, in which different aspects of environmental problems are investigated in city of Tehran. The results show an increase in environmental loads, which is evident from the rate of land cover change, water consumption and waste production. Degradation of ecological environment in Tehran is severe for soil pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change which can be the result of other environmental factors degradation such as air and water. In the end, according to components of DPSIR causal chain, different responses are proposed that can serve as a framework to develop strategies and action plans for a more efficient environmental planning of city of Tehran. We conclude that DPSIR model can link different aspects and depict the interaction and interconnectedness of different components of environmental issues in urban areas.