COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda Why get in the middle of a cat fight when you don't have to.

Lee Shipper has challenged the thought expressed in today's feature article concerning the importance of finding ways to bring the sustainable transport agenda into higher much relief in the COP15 climate negotiations just about to get underway. His point -- maybe a better idea not to do this at all -- is one on which we would like to invite your comments here.


Schipper writes on this date: COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda

AS one of the creators of this agenda, let me promote it by pointing out that the basic paradigm STARTS with sustainable transportation and reaps CO2 savings as a co-benefit.

The greatest problem for the COP is that there are few key transport system stakeholders there at any time. That, in my humble opinion, may be a reason NOT to put transport into the climate agenda.

Rather, put climate into the transport agenda and keep transport out of the reaches of the bitterly divided debate that is already apparent here in Copenhagen, where the police appear to be preparing for an onslaught.

We cannot solve long-term problems of transport and land use in the more narrow confines of an overheated debate over CO2, however important that CO2 problem is looming.

# # #

Comments invited either just below here (Comments) or to the New Mobility Cafe at NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com

--> Read on:

COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda SLoCaT: Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport

The Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport - SLoCaT - was established to provide opportunities for coordination and cooperation among organizations working on sustainable, low carbon transport. The goal of the Partnership is to get transport into the heart of the COP15 agenda. World Streets and the New Mobility Agenda are proud to support this most timely initiative.

Transport in developing countries is the one of the largest, and fastest growing, source of GHG emissions. At the same time transport is largely missing in climate change mitigation policies and actions worldwide. This is linked to an overall lack of sustainability expressed by poor urban planning, increased motorization, increased air pollution and noise, growing congestion and decreasing road safety.

The SLoCaT Partnership activities improve the knowledge on sustainable low carbon transport, help develop better policies and catalyze their implementation. Over 40 organizations have joined the Partnership, including UN organizations, multilateral development banks, technical cooperation agencies, NGOs, research organizations and other organizations.

The Partnership has 4 main objectives:

1. Contributing to sustainable development and the millennium development goals especially by providing access to or for goods and services by lower income groups.

2. The integration of climate considerations in regional, national and local transport policies,

3. The integration of sustainable, low carbon transport in climate change negotiations, and

4. Mainstreaming Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport in strategies and operations of international development organizations.

The Partnership has a multi-stakeholder membership representing development
organizations, intergovernmental organizations, governmental organizations, NGOs, private sector, and academe.

________________________________________
Membership

SLoCaT Partnership Members are committed to work towards sustainable, low carbon transport at the global, regional, national and local level.

* African Development Bank (AfDB)
* Asian Development Bank (ADB)
* Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF)
* Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP)
* Centre for Environment Planning & Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad
* Center for Science and Environment (CSE)
* Center for Sustainable Transport (CTS) Mexico*
* Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (PUSTRAL), Gadjah Mada University
* Civic Exchange (CE)
* Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center
* Clean Air Institute (CAI)
* German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
* EMBARQ, The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport
* Energy Research Center Netherlands (ECN)
* Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
* Global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP)
* Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
* Interface for Cycling Expertise (I-CE)
* International Association for Public Transport (UITP)
* International Energy Agency (IEA)
* International Transport Forum (ITF)
* International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
* International Union of Railways (UIC)
* Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
* Institute for Transport Policy Studies (ITPS)
* Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP)
* Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP) Europe
* Institute of Transport Studies (ITS), University of California, Davis
* Korean Transport Institute (KOTI)
* Ministry of Land Infrastructure Transport and Tourism, Japan
* National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS), Philippines
* Rockefeller Foundation
* Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM)
* Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
* The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
* Transport and Environment (T+E)
* Transport Research Laboratory (TRL)
* United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD)
* United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA)
* United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
* University College of London, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
* University of Transport and Communication (UTCC) Hanoi
* VEOLIA Transport
* World Streets
* WWF International

Do you see your organization listed there? If not, scroll down just below and you will see how to sign in to support this worthy cause.

Latest news:

If you look to the left column you will see that the latest news from SLoCaT appears under our "Latest World Streets Daily News Leads" rubric. We invite you to check it out when you visit here, especially in these days at a time when we are on the very rough road to sustainability that passes next week through Copenhagen,.

To join the SLoCaT Partnership please contact the Joint Conveners: Tom Hamlin, (Hamlin[at]un.org), or Cornie Huizenga (cornie.huizenga[at]slocatpartnership.org)

For all the latest information, check out their new website at www.slocat.net.

--> Read on:

Kolkata: Old buses and trucks banned from city streets (Is this really the way to go?)

The Bengal government has acted to implement the High Court's decision to check road accidents and cut down pollution levels. Vehicles more than 15 years old to be taken off Kolkata's streets. Local environmentalists cheer. World Streets is not quite so sure. The ban applies to about 2,500 buses, 500 mini buses and 6000 taxis, roughly one fourth of the total number in the city. We invite discussion and updates. (Kindly read Comments below for more.)


1. Finally, Bengal govt drives out Kolkata's old wheels

Source: IBNLive. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/finally-bengal-govt-drives-out-kolkatas-old-wheels/96692-3.html

Kolkata: Ten years, 14 hearings and 10 extensions of deadlines -- that's what the Bengal government has taken to implement the Calcutta High courts decision to check road accidents and cut down pollution levels.

Vehicles more than 15 years old will now be taken off Kolkata's roads from July 25.

The ban would apply to about 2,500 buses, 500 mini buses and 6000 taxis, roughly one fourth of the total number in the city.

"I know that the public will face difficulties once the illegal vehicles are seized. But we can't help. Despite repeated reminders the operators have not replaced the old vehicles,” says Bengal’s Transport Secretary, Sumantra Choudhury.
In the past few days, many accidents killed several people on Kolkata's roads.

In many cases it was found the vehicles were old and that the owners were resorting to illegal means to keep them running. Yet private transport operators have threatened to oppose the ban

"All unions are uniting to protest against this decision. We have no other alternative,” says President, Bengal Bus Syndicate, Swarnakamal Saha.

The state government is also impressing upon bus operators to do away with the commission system for staff on ticket sales and replace it with monthly incentives in an effort to clamp down on rash driving.

Transporters say replacing old buses with the new is a long process and withdrawing large number of buses will create havoc and public discomfort in the days to come.



# # #

Source 2:
Green activists happy, vehicle owners worried over ban order

Source: Thaindian News, http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/green-activist-kolkata_10073716.html

Kolkata, July 20 (IANS) The city’s green activists have welcomed with a sigh of relief the Calcutta High Court (HC) judgement banning commercial vehicles, registered on or before January 1, 1993, from plying in the metropolis. But for thousands of bus and minibus owners, the order Friday came as a shock as they claimed that about 80 percent of commercial vehicles will be off the roads once the judicial directive comes into effect March 31, 2009.

“The judgement is very unfortunate for thousands of bus and minibus owners and many other people who are directly or indirectly involved in this profession. We are planning to move the Supreme Court soon after getting a copy of the High Court order,” Sadhan Das, West Bengal Joint Council of Bus Syndicate (WBJCBS) general secretary, told IANS.

He said about 70 percent of the total vehicles plying in Kolkata and its three adjoining districts - South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Howrah - are commercial.

“If these vehicles are banned due to the age factor, the total public transport system would collapse. Commercial vehicles can only be banned if they are not maintaining the standard pollution norms, according to the Environment Protection Act,” he said.

The Calcutta High Court banned commercial vehicles registered on or before January 1, 1993 from Kolkata and its outskirts. All auto rickshaws would also have to convert either to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) mode. All autos with two-stroke engines have to be phased out by the year-end.
The HC judgement came following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a green crusader Subhash Dutta in March 2007.

“We have called representatives from all commercial vehicle organisations and will hold a meeting next week to take the final decision. We are hopeful of getting justice from the Supreme Court,” said Swarnakamal Saha, Kolkata Metropolitan Bus and Minibus Association member.

He said: “About 15 lakh (1.5 million) vehicles, of which over 80 percent are commercial, ply across 1,450 km of total roads in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA).”

But green activist Dutta is gung-ho over the judgement.

“It’s a very good judgement to reduce the city’s pollution level but we, the green activists, now will have to ensure that the order is carried out properly. The judgement covered most of the major points of the litigation such as ban on old commercial vehicles and using adulterated fuel,” Dutta told IANS.

He said that the average speed of cars in Kolkata is only 5 km per hour.

“A two-member committee will be formed soon to monitor the situation and find out if the order is being carried out properly,” he said.

# # #

World Streets has serious reservations concerning this kind of shotgun approach. The intentions are excellent, the ardor is real, but is piecemeal action really the best way to deal with this issues. We ask and invite you to respond. (Thanks to Richard Risemberg for the heads-up.)

--> Read on:

How Soon Will Cutting Transportation Emissions Save Money?

From the rough and tumble world of US transportation politics, Elana Schor of DC.STREETSBLOG.org takes an independent look at the Moving Cooler report, and tries to help those of us who do not necessarily understand DC-speak what it means for the real world.

Elana Schor, Washington DC, Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Anyone who kept tabs on the House's climate change bill last month recalls much acrimonious ado about the plan's impact on average American pocketbooks. The GOP tossed out cost estimates that turned out to [2] be manipulated, while nonpartisan projections showed the bill actually saving [3] money for low-income families.

But the unfortunate truth [4] about the House climate bill is how little incentive it provides for reducing the carbon footprint of the nation's transportation sector, which accounts for about 30 percent of total U.S. emissions.

So how much would it cost to seriously tackle transportation emissions, through transit expansion, land use, and strategies to encourage less driving? A new report [1] released this morning by a coalition of government agencies and environmental groups offers a groundbreaking answer to that question.

The Moving Cooler report, as it's known, divided an array of emissions-reduction tactics into bundles, reflecting the likelihood that several of them will be instituted at once as part of a larger climate effort.



Pictured above is the chart that depicts the "long term/maximum results" bundle -- in plain English, a package deal of congestion pricing, high-speed rail, expanded transit and inter-city passenger rail, car-sharing, more HOV lanes, and increased highway capacity to clear bottlenecks.

The estimated savings from those proposals begin to outweigh the costs of implementation around 2016, according to the report, which was co-sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.

But for other bundles of tactics, the savings from reducing emissions are more immediate; for others, they are more far-off. What about a package focusing on improving the efficiency of transportation systems, with highway expansion, speed limit reductions, and freight capacity boosts, but less attention to transit and rail?

That bundle would begin to save money by around 2022, the report found, with total savings reaching a peak of $80 billion per year in present-day dollars. Adding transit and rail to the mix nearly doubles the estimated savings, as the chart depicted above shows.

Another bundle of tactics focused on those that can be implemented right away at a low cost, though some of them also face considerable political opposition: congestion pricing, urban parking restrictions, transit fare reductions, and eco-driving. That package saves money almost immediately, the report's authors found.

Implementing the report's full array of solutions would result in estimated emissions reductions of as much as 24 percent every year. If that could be achieved, by 2050 the transportation sector would have provided one-fourth of the total greenhouse gas cuts required under the House climate bill. Of course, that's a tremendous "if."

The process starts, as one panelist involved in the report noted today, by recognizing that transportation has a major role to play in the climate bill and making it a prominent part of the discussion -- more prominent, even, than the debate over [5] how long to wait before re-writing federal transportation policy.

# # #
Article reprinted with permission from Streetsblog Capitol Hill: http://dc.streetsblog.org

URL to article: http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/07/28/how-soon-will-cutting-transportation-emissions-save-money/

URLs in this post:

[1] Moving Cooler: http://movingcooler.info/

[2] turned out to: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/mit-scientists-republicans-misusing-my-climate-change-paper.php

[3] actually saving: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20090622&id=10043858

[4] unfortunate truth: http://washingtonindependent.com/49985/public-transit-loses-to-polluters-in-climate-bill-subsidies

[5] the debate over: http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/07/27/a-make-or-break-week-for-transportation-begins-on-the-hill/

--> Read on: