Toward eco-resilient cities in Iran: integrating environmental engineering and smart urban development for sustainable futures

Iran's rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and socio-economic inequalities pose pressing demands for sustainable development and public health. Over ۷۵% of Iran's population now resides in urban areas, a figure anticipated to exceed ۸۳% by ۲۰۵۰, placing mounting strain on infrastructure, energy, and environmental services. This review critically examines the relationship between urban planning, environmental governance, and sustainable development in Iranian cities, particularly within the framework of climate change impacts, pollution control, green infrastructure, and SDG incorporation. Urban case studies of Tehran, Yazd, and Ahvaz illustrate innovation along with systemic challenges: Tehran's smart mobility plan has reduced traffic congestion by ۱۵%, Yazd's traditional qanat-based water management promotes urban resilience in the desert area, while Ahvaz continues to grapple with particulate matter (PM۲.۵) concentrations of more than ۱۵۰ µg/m³ during peak seasons―nearly ۶ times higher than WHO safety guidelines. We discuss how technological innovations like renewable energy incorporation, ecological restoration, and citizen participation are being increasingly implemented, albeit with uneven progress due to governance fragmentation, weak enforcement of environmental regulations, and underuse of local stakeholder knowledge. The importance is highlighted of coordinated, cross-sectoral approaches that align municipal action with national climate objectives and global sustainability agendas. The review demands more inter-ministerial coordination, more environmental education, investment in smart city technologies, and mainstreaming the One Health approach in urban policy. By integrating data-driven planning with traditional ecological knowledge, Iranian cities can shift from reactive crisis management to proactive, sustainable development. The findings offer strategic direction to policymakers and urban planners to build resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable urban futures in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Eco-resilient cities ، Urban environmental engineering ، Sustainable urban development ، Green infrastructure ، Iran