Fwd: Press Release: Good News for Copenhagen - Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies
Mark Abraham
From: Todd Alexander Litman <lit...@vtpi.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Here is good news for everyone seeking smart ways to reduce climate
change. "Win-Win" transportation emission reduction strategies provide
substantial energy conservation and emission reductions while also
achieving economic and social objectives.
Why Transportation?
When it comes to reducing emissions, transportation is special because
it has so many impacts on people and the economy. Win-win strategies
reduce climate change emission in ways that provide substantial
co-benefits, including congestion reductions, infrastructure cost
savings, consumer savings, traffic safety, improved mobility for
non-drivers, and improved public fitness and health. Implemented to
the degree justified by their economic benefits, these strategies can
reduce emissions by 30-50% compared with what would otherwise occur.
These are no-regret strategies that are justified regardless of any
uncertainty about climate change risks.
A Paradigm Shift
Efficient transportation requires more comprehensive and integrated
planning, which considers indirect and external impacts, and so
identifies the policies that provide the greatest total benefits to
society. Considering all benefits and costs, Win-Win strategies are
often the best way to reduce transportation emissions.
Consumer Benefits (Live Long and Prosper)
Win-Win transportation solutions benefit consumers directly by
improving transportation options (better walking and cycling
conditions, better public transport services, and innovations such as
carsharing, telework and delivery services), by providing new
opportunities to save money, and by creating more accessible,
multi-modal communities. This provides significant public health
benefits including accident reductions, improved public fitness, and
improved access to health services.
Supporting Economic Development
By increasing transportation system efficiency, Win-Win strategies
increase economic productivity and support economic development. They
do this by reducing inefficiencies such as traffic congestion, road
and parking infrastructure costs, accident and pollution damages, and
the cost burden of importing petroleum to fuel vehicles. Recent
research shows that economic productivity (per capita GDP) increases
in a region with higher public transit ridership, land use densities
and fuel prices, and declines with increased motor vehicle travel.
This is basic economics: a more efficient transportation system
increases productivity. Fortunately, it also reduces pollution
emissions. Thats good news from here to Copenhagen.
For more information:
"Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies" (
www.vtpi.org/wwclimate.pdf )
"Smart Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies" (www.vtpi.org/ster.pdf )
"Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified? Evaluating Mobility
Management Policy Objectives Such As Targets To Reduce VMT And
Increase Use Of Alternative Modes" (www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf )
"Moving Cooler: Transportation Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions" (www.movingcooler.info)
"Evaluating Transportation Economic Development Impacts"
(www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf )
“The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy,
Equitable Transportation Reform in America” (
www.convergencepartnership.org/transportationhealthandequity).
"Drive Less, Pay Less: Environmental and Transportation Groups Unveil
Performance Standard for Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance" (
http://www.ceres.org/Page.aspx?pid=1157 )
Sincerely,
Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
lit...@vtpi.org
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
“Efficiency - Equity - Clarity”