Date of Graduation

Spring 5-23-2026

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Environmental Management

First Advisor

Prof. Stephanie A. Siehr

Abstract

In 2023, exposure to air pollution killed 7.9 million people globally, becoming the second leading cause of death worldwide. Transportation emissions are among the primary drivers of this burden especially in rapidly urbanizing cities where vehicle fleets are growing faster than regulatory frameworks respond. This study examines the contribution of transportation emissions to urban air quality, public health and climate change in Lahore, Pakistan and Los Angeles, California. First, it employs a secondary data analysis of PM2.5 and ozone concentrations and vehicle fleet composition in each city, followed by an analysis of emission inventories. Second, it evaluates the regulatory frameworks governing these emissions and identifies transferable policy lessons from Los Angeles to Lahore. The analysis finds that PM2.5 and ground level ozone are the most significant pollutants in both cities, with Lahore's annual mean PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines by more than tenfold, driven by a motorcycle-dominated fleet operating on substandard fuel. Los Angeles, by contrast, has achieved measurable reductions in both pollutants through six decades of sustained regulatory intervention. The comparative policy analysis reveals a fundamental asymmetry, not just in standard stringency, but in enforcement architecture, institutional depth, and regulatory continuity. Lahore's recurring implementation gap between policy adoption and delivery stems from structural design weaknesses rather than a lack of ambition. The study recommends prioritizing air quality monitoring expansion, a targeted focus on two-wheeler electrification as the highest-impact intervention available, charging infrastructure development ahead of EV sales targets, and diversified EV subsidy financing.

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