Comparison of National Standards and Environmental Protection Policy Laws in Iran with Selected Countries Worldwide: A Comparative Study Based on Environmental Performance Indicators

Environmental protection, as one of the main challenges of the ۲۱st century, requires coherent policy-making and effective national standards. This research aims to compare the national standards and environmental protection policy laws in Iran with selected countries worldwide (United States, European Union, and China). The research method is a comparative-analytical approach, focusing on content analysis of legal documents and national standards. Data were collected from reliable sources such as Iran's Department of Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the European Commission, and China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Findings indicate that Iran has made progress in general protection laws (e.g., the Environmental Protection and Improvement Act of ۱۹۷۴), but faces challenges in implementing quantitative standards (e.g., permissible limits for air and water pollutants) due to economic sanctions and technological shortages. In comparison, the United States emphasizes environmental impact assessments (NEPA ۱۹۶۹), the European Union enforces stringent directives like REACH (۲۰۰۶), and China implements the Environmental Protection Law (۱۹۸۹, revised ۲۰۱۴) with higher standards in enforcement and monitoring. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI ۲۰۲۴) ranks Iran ۱۱۹th out of ۱۸۰ countries, while the US ranks ۳۴th, the EU averages ۲۲nd, and China ranks ۱۲۰th. This comparison underscores the need for reforming Iran's laws to align with global standards. Recommendations include strengthening judicial oversight, investing in green technologies, and fostering international cooperation.

کلیدواژه ها:

National Standards ، Environmental Policy-Making ، Iran ، United States ، European Union ، China ، EPI Index