"As the transport systems in our major cities come under pressure,
some commuters and communities are experiencing negative effects such as
high transport costs and travel times, congestion, overcrowding, noise,
air pollution, and reduced physical activity.
Crucially, our transport systems are failing when it comes to tackling climate change."
Waiting for the Green Light: Transport Solutions to Climate Change 13.09.18
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| Click here to download the full report. |
"AUSTRALIA is stuck in the slow lane on transport pollution, as one of a handful of OECD countries without greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles.
Our new report, ‘Waiting for the Green Light: Transport Solutions to Climate Change’ shows that transport is Australia’s second largest source of greenhouse gas pollution, after electricity."
"Transport is now Australia’s second largest source of greenhouse gas pollution after electricity, and the sector has seen the largest percentage growth (62.9%) since 1990."
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| Click to enlarge |
"At a number of international conferences,
transport ministers have addressed the need for CO2 abatement and
improved fuel efficiency in the transport sector, mainly through:
- Innovative vehicle technologies, advanced engine management systems and efficient vehicle powertrains;
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- The use of sustainable biofuels,
not only of the first generation (vegetable oil, biodiesel,
bio-alcohols and biogas from sugar plants, crops or animal fats etc.),
but also of the second (biofuels from biomass, non-food crops including
wood) and third generations (biodegradable fuels from algae);
- An
improved transport infrastructure together with Intelligent Transport
Systems (ITS) to avoid traffic congestion and to foster the use of
intermodal transport (road, rail and waterways);
See related UNECE work
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| Reference |
- Consumer information (campaigns for eco-driving*, use of public transport and modal transport etc.);
See related UNECE work and joined UNECE/WHO work on THE PEP
- Legal
instruments (such as tax incentives for low carbon products and
processes, taxation of CO2 intensive products and processes, etc.).
See related UNECE work
In Australia a "A variety of factors, including relatively low fuel prices and patterns of urban development, have led to heavy dependence on road transport. Given the significant contribution that road transport makes to greenhouse gas emissions, measures are needed to encourage road transport users to switch to less carbon-intensive modes"
Maddocks: Climate Change and the Transport Sector
AIR
In the meantime, there are a number of measures that the aviation sector can adopt to mitigate emissions, including:
• more fuel efficient aircraft, such as through advanced propulsion systems, utilization of lightweight materials, and improved aerodynamics and air frame designs
• use of lower carbon fuels navigation systems and air traffic control techniques that minimise fuel use
Maddocks: Climate Change and the Transport Sector
SEA
Maddocks: Climate Change and the Transport Sector
GENERAL
"In conjunction with a review of the regulatory regimes, consideration needs to be given to how climate change can be more effectively accounted for to reduce the risks for transport infrastructure.
Some options include: * mandatory assessments of climate change risks by infrastructure owners and operators review of the standards for transport infrastructure development to ensure that the infrastructure can withstand the effects of climate change – now and in the future
* the imposition of a use-based tax to support additional maintenance and repair measures that may be needed to address the effects of climate change establishing a direct link between revenues collected from road users and the allocation of funding for infrastructure construction and maintenance to ensure adequate funding exists to address the effects of climate change.
With respect to mitigation, there are a range of mitigation measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, including mode-specific measures as well as more general actions regarding design of transport and transport usage. Most of the mode-specific mitigation measures relate to road transport.
Uptake of these measures, particularly the voluntary measures, may be limited until a carbon price is introduced. In the meantime, greater emphasis is needed on making transit-oriented design the norm and changing individual’s habits regarding their transportation choices. Improving less carbon-intensive transport choices – particularly, rail transport – will help to achieve this.
Broader consideration also needs to be given to mitigation options for the other modes, particular air and shipping transport. However, adoption of measures for these modes may be delayed until global responses have been developed."
Maddocks: Climate Change and the Transport Sector
“The issue goes two ways in transport. Typically, road and air transport are considered major contributors to climate change, making up 23 percent of CO2 emissions,” said Professor Levinson.
“But transport is also vulnerable, particularly due to so many facilities like roads and bus terminals being in flood zones, for instance New Jersey Transit lost $US120 million in damage to buses after Hurricane Sandy.
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| Flooded Tunnel |
“Many transport facilities are also below grade, tunnels like those in the New York Subway were severely damaged from flooding during Sandy. Airports being at low elevations along the coast are at risk of sea-level rise. Extreme heat can cause road buckling, freeze-thaw cycles cause pavement cracking and potholes.
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| Bridges will require strengthening |
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| Dr Mark's map depicts projected landfall hazard in 2050. Blue is water, green is safe (low risk), yellow is medium risk, red is high risk. |
“Extreme weather increases the variability of weather, and roads designed for a particular climate range may fail more quickly. All of these add costs to design and retrofit, as well as decreasing reliability for users.”" University of Sydney Study