Followup On Sustainable Transportation Commitments At Rio+20 - 13 August, 2012.
Many voluntary commitments were made at the June
2012 Rio+20 conference, some of the most notable concerned promises about
emissions reduction in transportation. According to an August 7 Press Release
from the Worldwatch Institute, transportation emissions are the fastest growing
source of global greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions expected to increase
300 percent by 2050. Today, emissions from transportation contribute to
approximately 80 percent of the harmful air pollutants that result in 1.3
million premature deaths annually, according to Michael Replogle and Colin
Hughes of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP). The
two authored the fourth chapter, “Moving Toward Sustainable Transport, in
Worldwatch’s book State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity,
published in April 2012.
The largest financial commitment made at the Rio+20
Conference on Sustainable Development was a pledge by the 8 largest multilateral
development banks (MDBs) to commit 500 staff and to dedicate $175 billion for
more sustainable transportation in the coming decade. This unprecedented
agreement was facilitated by the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon
Transport (SLoCaT), which brings together 68 MDBs, civil society organizations,
UN agencies, and research and industry organizations.
“This action promises to begin countering decades of
unsustainable investments in transportation systems, such as building
high-capacity motorways,” said Michael Renner, Worldwatch Senior Researcher and
State of the World 2012 project co-director. “But it will require new resources
for civil society groups to be able to ensure independent monitoring of impacts
and follow-through by MDBs.”
“If transportation investments and management
policies foster walking, cycling, use of high quality public transportation,
and smart traffic management, growing urbanization can reduce consumption of
scarce resources, protect public health, and deliver happier, nicer cities,”
said Michael Replogle, Managing Director for Policy and Founder of ITDP and
State of the World 2012 contributing author. “These unprecedented MDB financial
and reporting commitments present an opportunity to leverage large shifts in
domestic and private transportation investment and to build capacity for a
paradigm shift.”
The demands on transportation infrastructure
continue to mount. Without changes in policy, 2 to 3 billion cars will be on
the world’s roads by 2050, in comparison to 800 million cars today, according
to the International Energy Agency.
Colin Hughes,
Global Policy Director at ITDP and State of the World 2012 contributing author
said “sustainable transport strategies can address rising mobility needs that
accompany increases in population, employment, and trade at a lower cost
overall, with more job creation and fewer adverse impacts.”
The key to this approach is a new sustainability
paradigm called “Avoid, shift, and improve.”
Sustainable transportation can be achieved by
avoiding unnecessary trips with smarter planning, pricing, and telecommunications;
Shift trips to more sustainable modes with investments in bus rapid transit
(BRT), walking, cycling, and traffic management, by limiting and pricing
parking, by applying polluter-pays incentives, and offering better traveler
information. Improve vehicle efficiency with cleaner fuels, better-operated
networks, and efficient vehicle technology adapted to local conditions and
requirements.
Worldwatch’s State of the World 2012, released in
April 2012, focuses on the themes of inclusive sustainable development
discussed at Rio+20, the 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 Earth Summit,
which was also held in Rio de Janeiro. The report presents a selection of
innovations and constructive ideas for achieving environmental sustainability
globally while meeting human needs and providing jobs and dignity for all.
Source: www.greenconduct.com
13 August, 2012.