Internationales Verkehrswesen
iv
0020-9511
expert verlag Tübingen
10.24053/IV-2020-0014
21
2020
721
Time for action
21
2020
Marion Vieweg
Daniel Bongardt
Without swift, ambitious action to reengineer the transport sector, it will be impossible to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, accessing relevant information on how to implement ambitious action often remains difficult for transport officials, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this article presents six recommendations for policymakers. They call for a paradigm shift, increased resilience, empowered cities, investments in multimodal hubs, increased freight efficiency and accelerated electrification.
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INTERNATIONAL Strategies Internationales Verkehrswesen (72) 1 | 2020 48 Time for action The transport sector’s role in enhancing climate ambition Climate change, Paris Agreement, Policy Recommendations, Climate ambition, NDCs, Mitigation Without swift, ambitious action to reengineer the transport sector, it will be impossible to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, accessing relevant information on how to implement ambitious action often remains difficult for transport officials, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this article presents six recommendations for policymakers. They call for a paradigm shift, increased resilience, empowered cities, investments in multimodal hubs, increased freight efficiency and accelerated electrification. Marion Vieweg, Daniel Bongardt T his year, signatories to the Paris Agreement are expected to submit revised national action plans - known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This is a pivotal opportunity for ramping up commitments, as current pledges are insufficient to avert dangerous climate change. Beyond 2020, the next five years will be crucial for steering the sector towards zero-carbon transport. The commitments that were declared in NDCs submitted before 2020 need to be implemented now. For that, decisive action will be required. Furthermore, soon preparations will begin on the new round of NDC enhancements slated for 2025. This will provide countries with another opportunity to set more ambitious targets as they learn from their experiences and gain a better understanding of untapped potentials. NDCs need to “represent a progression and reflect its highest possible ambition” (see decision CMA/ 2019/ L.4 [1], paragraph 5 and 6). Dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be needed in the coming decades to keep global warming below 1.5 °C. If the next round of NDCs fails to outline the way to zero emissions - including a decarbonised transport sector - it will be impossible to stay below the 2 °C threshold, much less 1.5 °C. Indeed, based on the current level of commitment, global heating is on track towards 3 °C or more by the end of the century. While the power sector for example has already made strides towards decarbonisation, the transport sector remains a key source of concern, as vehicle emissions continue to rise in most countries. Without swift, ambitious action to reengineer the transport sector, it will be impossible to meet the 1.5°C objective. Yet beyond merely reducing emissions, we should harness this transformative moment to usher in a just, sustainable and safe transport system, one that contributes to meeting both the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. We need to take more comprehensive climate action In recent years, transport sector experts have made great advances in increasing awareness of the ways in which transport can be made more sustainable. The global community is far better informed about where we stand in implementing climate action, which policy options exist, and the potential offered by different measures. However, officials who work in national departments for transport policy, particularly those in developing countries, often have a difficult time accessing relevant information or translating it into concrete measures. “Net decarbonization of the transport sector by 2050 is possible but will require an immediate and concerted turnaround of global policy action.” [2] Against this backdrop, we have conducted a detailed survey of existing transport-related roadmaps, calls for action, discussion papers and research findings, distilling them into six essential recommendations for policymakers and other officials working on climate action and ambition in the transport sector (see figure 1). As policymakers draft their upcoming NDC revisions, we hope they will heed these recommendations, which have been broadly formulated to allow adaptation to divergent national contexts. But even if these recommendations are not adopted directly in the NDC, they can help to guide meaningful activities. In addition to enabling emission reductions, the recommendations address various sustainable development challenges in the transport sector. Beyond fighting climate change, taking action in all six areas will thus help to reduce air pollution, noise and congestion, while also enhancing access to transport, road safety and the efficiency of the freight sector. 1. Shifting the paradigm towards zero-carbon targets for 2050 Moving away from the marginal reduction of emissions and towards the creation of a zero-carbon transport system by 2050 is essential for reaching global climate goals - and for making transport more equitable, sustainable and safe. We cannot rely on technologies that only reduce; we need a comprehensive approach to avoid, shift, improve and electrify. Decarbonisation targets should reflect this multifaceted approach. 2. Ensuring the resilience of transport systems Transport systems are vulnerable to climate change. Slow-onset impacts, such as sea level rise and increasing temperatures, as well as extreme climate events can disrupt services and destroy infrastructure. Governments need to ensure that all levels of transport planning develop resilient solutions to address the effects of a changing climate. 3. Empowering cities with national support The world’s population predominantly lives in urban areas. Accordingly, important aspects of the transport transformation will Strategies INTERNATIONAL Internationales Verkehrswesen (72) 1 | 2020 49 take place in cities. In many places, urban transport is associated with significant impairments to quality of life due to congestion, noise and poor air quality, among other factors. National policymakers must actively support cities in building sustainable urban transport systems. This will not only help decarbonise the transport sector; it will also improve the quality of urban life. 4. Investing in sustainable rail, inland shipping and multimodal hubs Investing in clean, efficient rail infrastructure and multimodal hubs will be essential for increasing the availability of mobility options while drastically reducing energy demand in long-distance passenger and freight transport. Combined with increased electrification and innovative zero-emission technologies for shared mobility, trucks and ships, these investments will enable cleaner, healthier and safer transport. Ideally, these investments should go hand-in-hand with the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies. 5. Enhancing efficiency in freight and logistics The movement of freight is essential for modern economies, but increasingly it also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and congestion, among other negative effects. Governments need to direct developments towards long-term sustainability and competitiveness, which also means reducing emissions in the sector. Currently, these issues are receiving too little attention. 6. Accelerating electrification with renewable energy The use of electric vehicles powered exclusively by renewable electricity is the most efficient way to decarbonise the transport sector. Electrification will also massively reduce air and noise pollution, and, when combined with shared mobility options, will substantially reduce overall system costs. In countries with relatively lower consumer purchasing power - such as Chile, China or India - the electrification of public transport and freight can start now, and higher private electric-vehicle ownership rates can be sought as a broader range of more affordable electric vehicles become available. The freight sector should become electric wherever possible and hydrogen or e-fuels should be used as needed to supplement electrification. Enhanced collaboration and good data will be key For these recommendations to take full effect, enhanced collaboration as well as a solid data inventory is key. National governments must work with all stakeholders to facilitate the deep transformation of the transport sector. Case studies on NDC development [3] have shown that collaboration in tandem with access to good data and analysis are key factors for success. Transforming transport will also require greater integration with the power sector. The NDC updating and revision process can be a catalysing moment that brings different levels of government, industry and civil society together, enabling the formulation of a common vision for the future. Once a vision has been elaborated, it should guide policy choices and investment decisions. Furthermore, action must be swift - significant change must be initiated no later than 2023 if complete decarbonisation is to occur by 2050. COP25 in Madrid called for more and more ambitious climate action. In the next few months, all countries will prepare for reviewing and enhancing their climate goals and submit their NDCs to the UNFCCC’s Registry. The Advancing Transport Climate Strategies Project, which is being carried out by GIZ and funded through the International Climate Initiative of the German Ministry of Environment (BMU), is supporting Transport Ministries in their process. In addition, we are currently developing a paper that explains the six recommendations highlighted above in more detail. This paper, which will be directed at policymakers and other transport sector actors in developing countries, will provide guidance on what needs to be achieved, highlight potential policy options, and identify the stakeholders who should be involved in the process. It is scheduled for release in early 2020. ■ REFERENCES [1] UN Climate Change Conference—December 2019: Chile Madrid Time for Action. Proposal by the President. Online: https: / / unfccc.int/ documents/ 204674 (Access: 13 Jan 2020) [2] Paris Process on Mobility and Climate: COP24 Key Transport Messages. Online: http: / / www.ppmc-transport.org/ cop24-transportkey-messages (Access: 13 Jan 2020) [3] Advancing Transport Climate Strategies Project: Transport in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Online: www.changing-transport.org/ publication/ transport-nationally-determinedcontributions (Access: 13 Jan 2020) Marion Vieweg Founder “Current Future”, Berlin (DE) marion.vieweg@current-future.org Daniel Bongardt Project Director, GIZ, Bonn (DE) daniel.bongardt@giz.de Figure 1: Six action recommendations for policymakers for enhancing climate ambition in transport Enhancing climate ambition: The upcoming NDC Transport Initiative and opportunities for Asian countries 29 Oct. 2019 Page 1 Ensuring the resilience of transport systems Empowering cities with national support Investing in sustainable rail, inland shipping and multimodal hubs Shifting the paradigm towards zero-carbon targets for 2050 1 Accelerating electrification with renewable energy Enhancing efficiency in freight and logistics Enhancing Climate Ambition in Transport 2 3 4 6 5
