WAN Gang Turning point
our Lars Barfoed Green Transport
Steve Ridgway Flying ahead planet Peter Bakker The magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme - September 2009 Delivering change
SUSTAINABLE Transport on the right track
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 1 Our Planet, the magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) PO Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254 20)7621 234 Fax: (254 20)7623 927 e-mail: [email protected]
To view current and past issues of this publication online, please visit www.unep.org/ourplanet
ISSN 101 - 7394
Director of Publication : Satinder Bindra Editor : Geoffrey Lean Coordinator : Naomi Poulton Assistant Coordinators : Anne-France White, Geoff Thompson Special Contributor : Nick Nuttall Editorial Assistant : Wambui Munge Distribution Manager : Manyahleshal Kebede Design : Amina Darani Produced by : UNEP Division of Communications and Public Information Printed by : Progress Press Distributed by : SMI Books
The contents of this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or the editors, nor are they an official record. The designations employed and the presentation do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authority or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
* All dollar ($) amounts refer to US dollars. Cover Photo: © Gallo Images/Getty Images
UNEP promotes environmentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks and other eco-friendly practices. Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. 2 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK WAN Gang : Turning point page 6 New Energy can usher in an ecological civilisation.
LARS BARFOED : Green transport page 10 A strategy for building a fossil fuel-free society.
STEVE RIDGWAY : Flying ahead page 12 Aviation’s place in a carbon-constrained world.
also
books page 4 PETER BAKKER : Delivering change page 14 reflections page 5 An ambition to create the world’s first zero-carbon transport company. verbatim and numbers page 9 products page 17 people page 20 www page 24 ANNA TIBAIJUKA : Tackling traffic page 18 How to address the world’s fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. awards and events page 33 star PAGE 34
Adriana de Almeida Lobo : Cities: the solution page 22 How to make cities competitive through sustainable transport.
Darryl d’Monte : Traffic jam page 25 How a bold attempt to introduce a revolutionary public transport system ran into opposition from motorists.
Lillian Borrone : Driving reform page 28 A chance to move towards performance-driven transport policy.
Konrad Otto-Zimmermann and Verónica Pérez Sueiro : Wanted: EcoMobility page 30 The dawning of a new age of walking, cycling and public transport. OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 3 books www.unep.org/publications
Vital Forest Graphics several accomplishments including Shanghai’s green transport vision, its off-shore wind farms and China’s largest building-integrated solar power A joint FAO, UNEP and UN Forum on Forests publication PV plant. The report also assesses, in general, measures being undertaken that translates forest-related scientific findings into by Shanghai to revamp the overall infrastructure of the city. a common, user-friendly language and promotes interaction between science and various stages of 2009 Climate Change Science the policy and decision-making process. Vital Forest Compendium Graphics analyses, synthesizes and illustrates topical and important forest Evidence on climate change is mounting and the need for issues, it reviews the main ecological functions that provide support for action is urgent. As pressures build for an internationally human well-being, and it highlights proven innovative practices for forest agreed response, keeping pace with the speed of research conservation and securing livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. advances and developments in climate change science remains a vital challenge. This groundbreaking report Marine Litter: A Global Challenge is a compilation of new scientific findings, important Marine Litter: A Global Challenge observations, developments, and innovations which offer insights into UNEP’s Initiative on Marine Litter is a framework for various aspects of Earth Systems. The focus of the Compendium is on the regional action addressing marine litter around the biophysical evidence of climate change and its implications. world including the 12 Regional Seas programmes. This publication reports on challenges of marine litter Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Branch (MCEB) Vital GEO Graphics UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: [+254] 20 762 4033 Fax: [+254] 20 762 4618 to the international community, reviews and analyses www.unep.org/regionalseas the information and data from regional assessments This e-book and CD-ROM is based on Global Environment and action plans The report presents a discussion, Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4), the general conclusions and proposed recommendations for the control and fourth issue of the GEO reporting series. It utilizes reduction of the global problem of marine litter. graphics from the GEO-4 assessment report to illustrate the scientific findings that underpin and link UNEP’s Trade and Climate Change six cross-cutting thematic priorities: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, A collaboration with the WTO, this report examines environmental governance, harmful substances and hazardous waste, the key linkages between trade and climate change. resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production. It presents a scientific review of climate change, its impacts and the options available for responding through mitigation and adaptation, and analyses economic aspects of the link between trade and Dictionary and Introduction to Global climate change. The report provides a review of trade Environmental Governance and climate change policies and measures at the Richard E. Saunier and Richard A. Meganck international and national levels. (Earthscan 2009) 50by50: The Global Fuel Economy Initiative This unique reference book provides a compilation of UNEP, IEA, ITF, FIA Foundation over 5,500 terms, organizations and acronyms drawn from hundreds of official sources. An introductory Launched in 2009, this Initiative aims to dramatically essay frames the major issues in global environmental improve motor vehicle efficiency globally. Its target is governance and outlines the pitfalls of talking past one a worldwide improvement in average fuel economy of another when discussing the most critical of issues facing the planet. 50 percent by 2050. This 50by50 e-book describes the Global Fuel Economy Initiative. It discusses key The World’s Protected Areas: Status, value and prospects in the 21st Century issues relating to large-scale automotive efficiency, potential global Edited by Stuart Chape, Mark Spalding and Martin impacts of improved fuel economy, policy options and the steps planned Jenkins with a foreword by Achim Steiner and Julia to achieve the 50by50 target. Marton-Lefèvre (University of California Press, 2008) UNEP Environmental Assessment Expo 2010 Shanghai, China This book aims to provide the most detailed assessment ever of the worldwide distribution and conservation This assessment reviews the effectiveness of status of national parks and reserves. It examines the relationship between environmental measures related to preparations people and protected areas, investigates threats and opportunities, cites for Expo 2010, which in promoting the green expo the history of protected areas, provides expert conservation advice and concept, is themed ‘Better city, better life’. It highlights celebrates the success of protected areas around the world.
4 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK — would cover about 10,500 square kilometres, equivalent to the entire surface of Lebanon. If they were comparable to the average American compact sedan, they would cover the entire surface of Djibouti and weigh more than ten billion tonnes.
Fortunately there is no gridlock in inspiring Green Economy ideas; but we need to embrace and accelerate them with creative public policies, including transformative market signals. Earlier this year, UNEP launched the 50by50 Global Fuel Economy Initiative, in collaboration with the International Energy Agency, the International Transport Forum and the FIA Foundation This is essentially a road map on how six billion
barrels of oil and two gigatonnes of CO2 — equivalent to half the total current annual emissions of the EU — can be saved reflections each year through an ambitious world wide programme in line with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Among the greatest challenges is demonstrating real and credible Achim Steiner alternatives to the simplistic growth of private transport, while UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNEP bringing some transparency to its economics. Countries and cities worldwide heavily subsidise highway infrastructure, parking, fuel, and other commodities. These subsidies — and Mobility is rapidly becoming one of the greatest the lack of real market pricing on vehicle-related goods — challenges facing developed and developing distort decisions in favour of using cars, vans and lorries. countries alike. Vehicles account for 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. There are also UNEP is demonstrating alternatives in Guatemala City, rising concerns about their impact on the quality Guatemala; Concepción City, Chile; Cartagena, Colombia; Dar- of urban life, including social inequities, and es-Salaam, Tanzania; and Jakarta, Indonesia in partnerships about the effects of their pollution on health with the Network for Environmentally Sustainable Transport and buildings. in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Institute for Transport Development and Policy, backed by funding from Billions of hours are being lost in congestion, with the Global Environment Facility. commensurate financial losses for economies businesses and individuals. According to the Texas The Concepción system, for example, includes plans to Transportation Institute, for example, congestion build four roadway corridors with 50 kilometres of exclusive in United States in 2007 cost close to $90 billion bus way and three stations to integrate different modes of a year, due partly to four billion hours — and 11 transport into the City’s bus system. It also envisages a bus billion litres of fuel — lost in travel delays. management centre, a centralised control system for railway traffic, improving the infrastructure of urban trains, and We are on the road to nowhere if existing policies constructing 21.4 kilometres of bike lanes. and economic models prevail with their over emphasis on private cars and on shifting shipments Funding is always a challenge. But a reformed Clean of goods to the roads. The world’s vehicle fleet is Development Mechanism (CDM), under the UN climate projected to triple from less than one billion to convention arrangements, could be a big boost. One CDM 2.6 billion cars and light trucks by 2050. proposal is looking at introducing large numbers of electric Developing economies will account for some scooters and three-wheelers to replace conventional ones 80 per cent of the increase. Greenhouse gas in Indian cities. Another envisages modern fleet-control emissions are conservatively expected to double: telecommunications systems to streamline bus movements. In especially when it is considered that roughly a Chongqing, China. Mass transit cable cars linking to the metro third of an average vehicle’s life-time emissions system are being planned for hilly areas of the city of Medellin, are released during its manufacture. And Colombia. And there are more fascinating and imaginative increasing areas of productive land will end up plans in the pipeline. under asphalt. In just a few short weeks, representatives of more than 190 A new UNEP strategic paper estimates that, governments will gather in Copenhagen for the crucial climate if all these projected 2.6 billion vehicles were convention meeting. If they can get into gear to propel the subcompact cars, their required surface area world to a low-carbon future, societies may also finally embark alone — excluding any roadway or parking spaces on a journey to more sustainable transport.
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 5 WAN Gang
Press/Corbis © Li Ziheng/XinHua/Xinhua Minister of Science and Technology – the People’s Republic of China Turning point
6 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK Basic, as it is, to production and of different types achieved zero- human life, energy is also a major emission transport in Olympic factor influencing atmospheric venues, and low emissions in changes — and humanity must surrounding areas. Zero-emission develop and use it in a rational vehicles driven by electricity and way if it is to live in harmony with fuel cells will be demonstrated nature. If we are successfully to at the 2010 Shanghai World tackle global climate change and Expo, and the use of hybrid meet increasing energy demand, vehicles will be extended in we need to develop clean energy, surrounding regions. raise energy efficiency, conserve energy and reduce emissions. Our The government’s Outline of efforts today will not just make an National Medium and Long- immediate difference, but shape the term Program on Scientific and future of humankind. Technological Development (2006–2020) — which aims to Innovating and disseminating further innovation in energy — energy-efficient technologies is stresses that: developing solar, high on the agenda of the Chinese wind, nuclear and biomass energy government, as are developing for a diversified Chinese energy mix and using clean energy. China has is of great significance; developing made vigorous efforts to explore clean coal technology and coal and promote new energy, energy- bed methane to reduce pollution efficient lighting and clean energy is vital; and cutting energy use vehicles. Since the beginning of the and emissions — mainly through 21st century, it has systematically introducing advanced technologies initiated a series of major new in construction, transport and energy research and development industry — is important. (R&D) projects including on electric vehicles (EVs), light- As a result of these endeavours, emitting diode (LED) lighting, China’s new energy industry has wind and solar power, the use of accomplished much. By 2008, it clean coal, and high-temperature ranked fourth in the world for gas-cooled reactors. installed wind power capacity, at 12,170 MW. Its share of the global China’s automobile industry has solar cell market exceeded 30 per boomed since 2001 when cars cent in 2007 with a production began to be acquired by households capacity of 2,900 MW and output on a large scale. The Ministry of 1,088 MW. Efforts to develop of Science and Technology has and apply biomass energy enabled launched a special R&D project China to use more than 12 billion on EVs to ensure energy security, cubic metres of biogas a year. protect the environment, and stimulate innovation in the auto The Government has decided industry. It focuses on three types that bolstering scientific and of new vehicles — hybrid, battery technological advances in new electric and fuel cell — and plans energy and developing the new to develop the key technologies energy industry are part of China’s of battery, motor and electronic major measures to combat the world control systems. Since 2004, new financial crisis and restructure energy vehicles have begun being industry. So it has launched demonstrated commercially in demonstration projects in energy eight Chinese cities. At the 2008 conservation and commercializing Beijing Olympic Games, 600 EVs new energy.
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 7 Press/Corbis © Li Ziheng/XinHua/Xinhua
“We are now at a turning point — moving from the fossil fuel age One — called “1,000+ Green towards renewable and clean energy. Vehicles in each City” — promotes We are also at large-scale commercialization of new energy vehicles in the public a juncture — envolving from industrial civilization transport systems making hybrid, towards ecological civilization.” electric and fuel cell buses and taxis available, initially in 13 cities. By In an era of globalization, no one gas, going from solid to liquid to 2012, over 60,000 clean buses and country can make socio-economic gas, following a law of “decreased taxis are expected to be running or S&T progress without extensive carbon and increased hydrogen”. in China. international cooperation and Innovations in power equipment exchanges. The fight against follow a technology roadmap of Another project — “10,000+ high global climate change also “higher energy efficiency and lower efficient Lamps in each City” — entails intensified international emissions”. Each technological aims to introduce LED technology partnerships. China highly values evolution in energy generates to public lighting systems, international collaboration in S&T tremendous economic returns, beginning with 21 cities. It will and, in recent years, has actively transforms industrial structures, equip the country with 6 million taken part in the International and improves people’s lives functional and decorative LED Thermonuclear Experimental lamps within three years, reducing Reactor Program, Generation We are now at a turning point energy consumption by more than IV International Forum, Carbon — moving from the fossil fuel 60 per cent. Sequestration Leadership Forum, age towards renewable and clean International Partnership for the energy. We are also at a juncture Similarly, the “Golden Sun” project Hydrogen Economy and other — envolving from industrial endeavours to increase China’s international energy initiatives. civilization towards ecological installed solar photovoltaic capacity The Ministry of Science and civilization. A new round of S&T by 2,500 MW by 2015, and to build Technology also initiated innovation in energy is on the way. some 50 MW solar thermal power the International Science We need to join hands and work stations by 2020. and Technology Cooperation hard. Building on the experience Program on New and Renewable and wisdom of past generations, The Government also pays great Energy in 2007. China stands we should do our best to develop attention to the new developments willing and ready to pool global and use all sources of energy. Only in energy science and technology S&T resources and carry out when we do so will the present (S&T) and has committed to more wider and deeper international generation live in a cleaner world. R&D of technologies related to cooperation through joint R&D in Only when we do so will future integrated gasification combined cutting-edge domains. generations enjoy better prospects
circle: CO2 capture, storage and and more room for development. utilization; hydrogen fuel cells; Over the history of industrial Only when we do so will we embrace solar thermal power generation; development, the major fuel has a new era where humanity lives in bio-energy, etc. evolved from coal to oil to natural perfect harmony with nature.
8 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK verbatim numbers
International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) director general and chief executive, Giovanni 90 Bisignani, at the 2009 G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy Percentage of American adults willing to choose a hybrid if they were to buy a new vehicle. — EV World Insider “Commercial aviation is the first global industry to commit to a carbon-neutral growth target by 2020. We have a solid track record of meeting our targets.” 6 Billion dollars, the amount the Chinese Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, justifying the UK Government’s plan to replace short-haul domestic electric bicycle industry is worth flights with a high-speed rail network in an interview with the Guardian on 5 August 2009 — The Australian
“For reasons of carbon reduction and wider environmental benefits, it is manifestly in the 1/2 Amount by which the global auto industry public interest that we systematically replace short-haul aviation with high-speed rail.” and governments pledged to slash emissions from cars by 2050 Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, referring to the Global Trends in Sustainable Energy — 50by50 Campaign report released in June 2009 6 Number of tonnes of transport-related CO “There have been many milestones reached in recent years, but this report 2 emitted by North Americans each suggests renewable energy has now reached a tipping point where it is as year, contrasting with 0.1 tonnes important – if not more important – in the global energy mix than fossil fuels.” emitted by Tanzanians each year — CIA - World Factbook 2007
Aimee Gauthier of Access Africa commenting on the importance of broadening the transport options available to South African women 20,000 Number of passengers per hour that buses travelling at 27km/h can move on “Poverty complicates mobility and lack of transport options complicates poverty… highways with exclusive bus lanes — Global Urban Development Transport costs put a lot of financial pressure on households where financial pressures Volume 2 already exist.”
Stef Van Dongen, Director of Enviu, the Rotterdam-based environmental think tank behind the 15 Percentage of global greenhouse low-emissions rickshaw/tuktuk designed to replace highly-polluting auto rickshaws found in gas emissions attributable to Thailand, India and other countries in Asia transportation — PNAS - Climate forcing from the transport sectors
“I used auto-rickshaws a lot and was astonished by the amount of smoke. By helping to create a hybrid rickshaw, we saw a huge opportunity to improve the environment and 87 also to improve the life of the rickshaw drivers.” Percentage increase of EU’s commercial flights greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2007 Energy analyst, Chris Nelder speaking at the 2009 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, — British Airline Pilots’ Association Texas on 4 May 2009 30 Percentage of aviation fuels that biomass- “Renewables are clearly the long-term answer, as is an all-electric infrastructure that to-liquid fuels could account for by runs on its clean power. However, it will likely take over 30 years for renewables to ramp 2050 — International Energy up from a less than 2% share of primary energy today to 20% or more.” Agency (IEA)
OUR OUR PLANET PLANET ON PRACTICAL THE RIGHT ACTION TRACK 9 © Grant Dougall/iStockphoto© Grant
Green TRANSPORT
emissions, a figure expected to daily lives, and they will remain rise in coming years. We intend important in the future. But to reverse this trajectory. But as we are now making energy- we endeavour to do so, we must friendly cars cheaper to buy and LARS BArFOED not lose sight of the contribution introducing smart road pricing to transport makes to our quality of motivate people to drive when the Minister for Transport, Denmark life — connecting people, families roads are at their emptiest and to and businesses. We all depend on consider when it might be wiser The Danish government has a well-run, efficacious system: it to go by bicycle or public a long-term vision of making is a key element of the basis on transport. This, combined with Denmark completely independent which our welfare and well-being such measures as smart traffic of fossil fuels. The first step has are founded. control, will reduce pressure on been taken, introducing a new the roads. Congestion is already a strategy for sustainable transport, Green Transport Vision DK is a problem on some stretches, with designed to ‘break the curve’ of far-sighted, integrated plan for inevitable loss to the economy. emissions. Transport policy is a green transport system, with There will be substantial to be underpinned by an ethos three fundamental components: investment in Denmark’s road of sustainability, under which adjusting vehicle tax to greener network where the need is a world-class system will be vehicle levies; more and better greatest in coming years and this, developed and sustained — an public transport; and new together with green road pricing, enormous task, but necessary sustainable technologies. It will promote progress towards
if our ambitious goal is to be will bring down the rising CO2 sustainable mobility. achieved. Denmark’s green emissions from transport as we transport policy has been approach 2020. Increased uptake of public formulated with the overall transport is essential — we objective of improving Judicious restructuring of vehicle intend it to absorb most of the mobility while reducing transport- tax to greener vehicle levies will forecast growth in traffic — but
related CO2 emissions in a cost- accelerate the development of a this requires it to be seen as effective way. more energy-efficient national an attractive alternative to the car fleet and the phasing-in of car. Denmark will, therefore, We are facing a serious challenge. cleaner technologies — not least significantly extend and improve We cannot ignore the fact that using electricity for fuel. Cars its public transport, providing transport is responsible for some are essential to many Danes, more trains, at more regular
25 per cent of Denmark’s CO2 for the smooth running of their intervals and with shorter journey
10 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK times. This massive investment in a major role in — the transport our responses must be to boost public transport will go hand in system in the long term. It is research both into finding hand with the green re-adjustment important that international completely new instruments to of car taxation. partners see the country as an deploy but also into developing attractive place for trialling new existing resources to fit them to a The transport system must technologies, so pilot projects will more modern transport system. also be sufficiently geared up to be set up over the next few years implement other cleaner fuel to identify opportunities for, and Neither Denmark nor any other technologies expeditiously and obstacles to, disseminating new country can tackle this challenge efficiently. The ‘big picture’ technologies and making them alone. The EU-wide adoption of envisages efficient electrical cars marketable. These will test the norms for private cars and heavy within a few years. Hydrogen deployment of energy-efficient goods vehicles has significantly and electricity-powered cars transport solutions, such as improved their environmental are exempt from tax until 2012, energy-efficient buses and sizeable attributes, considerably and in the period 2012-2015 an publicly or privately owned fleets exceeding our expectations. advantageous registration fee of vehicles. This emphasises the crucial will apply to electricity-powered importance of rising to the CO2 cars, commensurate with what is I set great store by building challenge not just nationally, needed to maximize their take-up. partnerships with commercial but through cross-border action. organizations and municipal We must work systematically In the long term, we envisage authorities to develop transport and internationally towards a major restructuring of the plans and system solutions. requirements for the energy- transport system, so that people We need to disseminate new efficiency of vehicles, standards for will both make the best possible technologies and ensure that electric cars, new fuel technologies use of the cleanest available fuels they are taken into everyday and knowledge-sharing. and have recourse to a much practical use. more varied combination of We still have some way to go private cars, bicycles and public But we also need to take a long- before we can justifiably claim transport as appropriate in a term approach to research, to have broken the curve of day-to-day context. If enough development and innovation if transport-related CO2 emissions drivers make environmentally we are to achieve far greener but, equipped with our green friendly choices both when buying transport without resorting to transport vision for Denmark, and driving cars, we shall have extremely costly restrictions I believe that we are well on made great strides as a society on mobility. Not the least of our way. towards ceasing to be dependent on fossil fuels. How much does it consume? Megajoule per passenger for 1 km of traveling I have recently set up a Centre for 02134567 Green Transport in the Danish Bicycle Ministry of Transport to inject momentum into the process and High Speed Train start up some concrete initiatives Walk to reduce transport-related CO2, where warranted by economic Bus conditions. A series of such Compact car initiatives is currently being put (solo driver) under way, designed Hybrid car (solo driver) to have an immediate effect and use existing means of transport Plane more effectively. Cruise ship
SUV Denmark is also to act as a (solo driver)
‘laboratory’ for developing Sources: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2008; www.brianmac.co.uk; Volkswagen, Toyota, Chrysler car technical- specifications; Airbus plane technic tables; Cunard technic table for Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, Institut National de sustainable transport technologies, Recherche sur les Transports et leur Sécurité; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2000. that they can feed into — and play
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 11 Only 25 years ago — when the first Virgin We’re a global industry and — as such — need Atlantic flight took off, bound for New York — global solutions. Inclusion in the EU Emissions few on board would have recognised the phrases Trading Scheme, which comes into effect from “climate change”, “greenhouse gases” or “carbon 2012, is a first step in establishing a robust target, footprints”. Since then, they have become part Steve Ridgway and incentivising lower carbon behaviour. of daily conversation, and we are all much more Unfortunately, though, it will have little impact aware of the challenges society faces in squaring Chief Executive of on global CO emissions levels as its scope is Virgin Atlantic Airways 2 reliance on carbon limited to flights arriving intensive activities with at, and departing from, the urgent need to halt — EU airports. and then reverse — the rise in global greenhouse The Aviation Global gas emissions. Deal Group, of which Virgin Atlantic is a I’m not going to get member — along with into a debate on the Flying Air France-KLM, relative contribution of British Airways, Cathay aviation to greenhouse Pacific, Finnair, Qatar gas emissions. That is Airways and Virgin Blue, not important. What is airport operator BAA important — particularly and the environmental when the scientists are organisation The telling us that we need to ahead Climate Group — massively reduce global was founded last carbon dioxide emissions year to stimulate
— is that air travel, ideas on how CO2 notwithstanding the emissions from current economic downturn, is growing rapidly. And international aviation could be included in a that the considerable efficiency gains being achieved in global climate change framework. the design of new engines and aircraft are not enough to offset the growth in CO2 emissions associated with Earlier this year we published a set of principles this booming industry. which we believe should form the basis of a successful mechanism for dealing with Flying is crucial to the global economy and central to carbon dioxide from international many people’s lifestyles — it links individuals, families aviation. First and foremost, and communities, and results in vibrant and successful any system needs to be businesses and cultures. But we need to be part of a environmentally discussion about how the industry — and the regulatory effective. It must frameworks in which we operate — can adapt to meet impose a the needs of a carbon constrained world. robust
Governments will have much to discuss when they come together in Copenhagen in December. But concerns about the global economic downturn must not be allowed to weaken their resolve to sign up to ambitious targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting is also a key opportunity for them to set a clear direction on how to include aviation within such a framework.
12 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK © Luke MacGregor/Reuters
cap on overall emissions and truly allow aviation to Aviation is in a unique position, as this brand play its part in meeting global greenhouse gas reduction new supply chain emerges, to make sure that full targets. It must be mandatory, applying to all airlines consideration is given to the sustainability of these equally, and establish a sectoral approach which sets new fuels. We would anticipate that considerable specific targets for aviation whilst allowing them savings will be made in the comparative life-cycle access to cost effective emissions reductions from other carbon footprints of second generation fuels, but sectors. It needs to minimise the risk of competitive internationally agreed methodologies must be agreed distortions and negative unintended consequences on how to account for these. And we must make such as carbon leakage, whilst recognising the central sure that cultivating the biomass feedstock does not pillar of the UNFCCC, of “common but differentiated compete with food crops for land or water, or cause responsibility”. deforestation and the loss of high-value eco-systems. Their production should also provide socio-economic The Group’s policy mechanism, proposed as one benefit to the communities in which they are grown of the ways in which aviation can be brought into a and give access to lower carbon energy for more than global framework, recommends that this common just aviation. but differentiated responsibility — where developed countries bear a greater burden for enabling emissions We recognise, however, that biofuels are no silver bullet. reductions as they have benefited from carbon intensive They must be accompanied by a continued focus on industrialisation for much longer than developing ones fuel efficiency, on reducing the carbon intensity of each — is achieved through how the revenues generated by a passenger and cargo kilometre flown. Virgin Atlantic sectoral cap and trade scheme are disbursed. We believe has set its own challenging carbon intensity target a proportion of aviation’s carbon allowances should be and we’re confident that, despite continuing to grow auctioned, with the proceeds going to climate change our fleet and the number of passengers we carry each related projects in the developing world. year, our absolute carbon footprint will peak within the next decade. Virgin Atlantic is not afraid to try new things. In the days before our demonstration flight in February last As a great believer in human innovation, I am confident year, we were being told that planes would never fly that — through a combination of renewable fuels and on biofuel, that fuels derived from biomass couldn’t step changes in technology — Virgin Atlantic and our meet the stringent performance targets required of colleagues in the wider industry will be able to meet a jet fuel. We love proving people wrong and our the challenge and secure aviation’s future in a carbon “proof of concept” flight — the culmination of many constrained world. But a robust yet ambitious global months of rigorous testing in labs and on engine policy framework is critical, and will be delivered rigs — did just that. Since then, massive progress only when Governments join forces in Copenhagen has been made in the technical certification of bio- this December and agree a clear path forward for derived fuels and they are now recognised our sector. as a key ingredient in setting aviation on a lower carbon For more information on the Aviation Global Deal flight path. Group, please visit: www.agdgroup.org
“...biofuels are no silver bullet. They must be accompanied by a continued focus on fuel efficiency, on reducing the carbon intensity of each passenger and cargo kilometre flown.”
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 13
Peter Bakker
CEO, TNT NV Delivering change
COPENHAGEN
It’s 6 a.m., the start of another day. After a quick breakfast, I enter my personal transport pod. Powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, it drives effortlessly, its sleek design reminiscent of my old Porsche. I wave my hand above the built-in 3D computer interface and quickly order my express delivery.
Despite a population increase, I virtually ‘float’ over the uncongested network of guideways. The country’s new transport plan optimises our infrastructure, using considerably less energy and virtually eliminating congestion. The personal rapid transit system, with battery-operated electric cars, has dramatically diminished harmful emissions and improved travel.
14 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK © Colin McPherson/Colin McPherson/Corbis
I glimpse the solar thermal farms and wind turbines alternative technologies — and on business leaders that supply all our national energy. Our zero-carbon proactively developing the right solutions at the right cities make the air feel and smell cleaner. All TNT’s time. As TNT has a vested interest in creating a European offices, depots and hubs are also completely sustainable future, we see it as ‘responsible risk taking’ carbon free: our other operations are not far behind. to go beyond compliance and positively influence the Our technological investments and collaboration with direction of future developments. partners has paid off: our business now emits 50 per cent less CO2 than just 15 years ago. As a global transport business and Europe’s largest
Express operator, TNT is a key contributor to CO2 At my destination, my express package is waiting, emissions. Employing 160,000 people, we deliver exactly where and when I requested. Stepping out of express consignments and mail items to businesses and my pod, I grab my newest gadget — a flexible display. consumers in 200 countries, supported by a vast air Weighing just 13 ounces, it consumes 100 times less and road network. Our aircraft and vehicles generate power than an LCD and rolls up into my pocket. nearly 80 per cent of our carbon emissions. Because I scan the headlines and one catches my eye: ‘Jetpacks, we contribute to the problem, we must be part of the computer-controlled helicopters, to become favoured solution. mode of personal transport’. It sounds crazy, but who knows? I believe anything is possible. Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) strategy is our commitment to areas where we have the biggest Can you imagine such a world? It may seem science impact: the health, safety and development of our fiction, but I believe it’s not far away. At TNT, we’re employees, our operational carbon footprint and use involved in many industry discussions that make of natural resources, our work with subcontractors us hopeful about the potential of new, innovative and suppliers, and our philanthropic efforts. TNT transport technologies and fuels. has established a reputation of CR leadership through unique initiatives, such as an innovative partnership Since climate change and resource scarcity began to with the United Nations World Food Programme emerge as significant global issues, it’s become clear (WFP). For the past two years, TNT has led the that transport’s future rests on the availability of these Industrial Products and Services super sector in the
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 15 Dow Jones Sustainability Index with the highest score of any “Our aircraft company. Our strategy builds on those achievements. and vehicles Our efforts to reduce our carbon output started five years ago generate when we began calculating our emissions. Planet Me, our holistic nearly 80 per cent environmental programme, was launched in early 2007, of our carbon emissions. accompanied by our ambition to become the world’s first Because we contribute to the problem, zero-emission transport company. we must be part of the solution.”
Its cornerstone, ‘Code orange’, Efficient driving can reduce CO2 emissions by some 15 to 20 per cent, consists of mandatory programmes so our Drive Me programme instils and rewards the highest touching every area of our business, standards among our employed and subcontracted PUD and from airplanes and vehicles to line-haul drivers. Each year, about 20 of our top drivers compete for buildings, depots and company cars. the title of TNT’s most fuel efficient, safe and customer-oriented It aims to reduce our environmental driver. The programme has had a dramatic impact on the behaviour impact and boost our bottom line of our drivers and subcontractors, who are also obliged to adopt by continuously improving the fuel TNT’s environmental standards and behaviour. efficiency of our global operations, networks and supply chain — and In the early days of our environmental journey, it seemed that by using natural resources more meeting the needs of one stakeholder risked neglecting those of prudently. another. The key, we discovered, is in balancing those interests. We are working to find sustainable business solutions that benefit all Our operational fleet, some of them. We are involved in a range of cross-company and cross- 14,500 vehicles, accounts for industry initiatives that enable us better to understand stakeholder
28 per cent of our CO2 emissions. priorities and to define solutions that support our environmental TNT has invested in a fleet of 60 commitment and business objectives. electric vehicles, hybrid trucks and aerodynamic improvements to line- Our partnership with WFP, for example, led to collaborative work haul vehicles. We are also testing with UNEP and the Fleet Forum, an independent knowledge centre biogas which, combined with dedicated to improving humanitarian fleet operations. A Fleet electric vehicles, would allow us to Safety Toolkit, developed collaboratively with Forum members, was achieve zero-emission transport. recently successfully pilot tested in Kenya with marked reductions in road accidents, fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs Our operational experts are looking — achievements recognised recently by the Prince Michael of Kent at ways to drive shorter distances, International Road Safety Award. while optimising our vehicle load capacity, to decrease our emissions Our environmental commitment and CR strategy reflect our per consignment. Network conviction that TNT’s greatest potential to contribute to society optimisation offers enormous is by running our business responsibly and sustainably. Successfully potential to maximise pick-up realising our ambitions will create value for each of our stakeholders and delivery (PUD), particularly which, in turn, will be good for our business. in inner-city distribution, by combining daily shipments. Our We are, though, just one player in an interconnected world. Imagine quest is to achieve zero emission how the world would look in 20 years if everyone assumed personal inner-city delivery in all major cities responsibility. Could we look forward to living on a truly sustainable beginning in 2012. planet after all?
16 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK products
These shoes were made for walking Timberland Co. released its first fully recyclable boot in July 2009. After they have been worn down, the Earthkeepers 2.0 boots are designed to be disassembled and recycled, rather than discarded. The boots can be returned to any Timberland store and 80% of the materials can be recycled or re-used. The leather is refurbished at the company’s factory in the Dominican Republic, while the outsoles are recycled at a Green Rubber factory in Georgia. In addition, Earthkeepers 2.0 boots are produced using recycled PET linings, organic cotton and leathers from tanneries achieving Leather Working Group silver-rated status for industry-leading water, waste and energy management. www.timberland.com/earthkeepers
Bamboo Bicycle The rough and bumpy terrain that characterizes most African towns and cities has made it difficult to ride and maintain a regular bicycle; so many commuters opt for gas-guzzling polluters like cars and motorbikes. But now, African entrepreneurs have devised a durable, eco-friendly alternative for African cyclists – the bamboo bike. With frames made from sturdy bamboo stems the bike is suited to the potholed roads found throughout Africa. In addition the bamboo bikes sell for a reasonable $55, half the cost of imported Chinese bicycles. Already on sale in Ghana and Zambia, these bikes make optimum use of bamboo – an environmentally friendly and highly renewable resource. www.zambikes.org/
Travelling in Style To commemorate this transport issue of Our Planet, it is only fitting that our fashionable readers get a first look at this year’s must-have accessory – the designer bike. Unlike the bamboo bicycle (featured above), these designer bikes aren’t popular for their affordability (prices range from $1000 to $17, 000), but rather for making a powerful style statement while contributing to lower carbon emissions.
Practical and eco-friendly bike helmets Most bike helmets are designed with an eye to practicality and safety, but now clothing company Lacoste has designed a bike helmet that checks those boxes and is also elegant and eco-friendly to boot. The helmets are made from sustainable materials like organic wool, thermoformed bio- plastic, low-density cork and soy-based foam. In addition, to create a utilitarian appearance and conceal the hard shell’s interior vents, the helmets are fitted with breathable organic wool in an attractive herringbone tweed. The helmets are targeted to female urban professionals between the ages of 19 and 40, a group which research indicates is more prone to cycling injuries. http://www.nowpublic.com/health/lacoste-helmet-concept
Velomobile – the bicycle car Lying down to exercise and helping the environment is actually possible thanks to the Velobile! Velomobiles are fully enclosed, human-powered bicycles with zero emissions. Riders cycle using standard pedals to power the velomobile and depending on their fitness levels, can push it to its maximum speed of 50 km/h. The enclosed pod keeps riders dry and certain models also have extra space for belongings. http://www.leiba.de/
Country Feeling Surfboards Country Feeling Surfboards give surfers an opportunity to celebrate nature with surfboards made with environmentally friendly materials – soy-based and sugar-based foams; deck inlays made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and silk; and resin that is catalyzed by the sun. The board’s shapers bring together form and function with their classic line of fishes, twin fins, single fins, four- fins, eggs, funboards, longboards, and stand up paddleboards – all kinder to the environment and engineered to bring the soul back into surfing. http://www.countryfeelingsurfboards.com/
What?! No batteries? Your bedroom is the last place you’d want mud. Or maybe not…The Mud Clock is an eco-friendly clock that requires no batteries, just a little dirt and water. The clock is powered by a safe chemical reaction between mud and metal electrodes, displaying the time without the need for additional power sources. You can also add your favourite plants to the pot for a decorative touch. http://www.eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/archives/846-Mud-Clock.html
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 17 © Nic Bothma/epa/Corbis 18 consumption and energy high of heat to due their islands form Cities inseparable. virtually are change climate and Urbanization to climate change? contribute areas urban do how towns, and cities in livingWith now half over of humanity Under Secretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations and ExecutiveDirectorofUN-HABITAT
ONTHERIGHT TRACKOUR PLANET speaks toOurPlanet. Anna Tibaijuk Tackling
metres above sea level. sea above metres 10 zonesthan less coastal in live per cent of world’s the peoplesixty Indeed, ports. ones are 19 biggest of world’s 14 the and coastal, are cities large of all quarters Three cities? on of the is impact climateWhat change seriously. very taken must be change cities to climate contribution the so ofdecades, two to percent 60 within areas urban in ofproportion humanity the increase will this people, and 200,000 by almost cities grows of world’s the population the day dependence. Every energy and consumption increase lifestyles changing incomes and higher as ones poor than gases greenhouse cities produce moreRich asphalt. and of concrete density high their and (GHG) gas emissions, greenhouse t intervention for change and can, can, and for change intervention of locus essential an are authorities local Their initiatives. urban scale large- and economies of scale through reduce emissions to Cities offer opportunities to climate change? adaptation and mitigation on work cities can How conditions. unhygienic overcrowded and in poor, living urban for the problems especially health to increase seriously expected be also can pollution increased and temperatures Higher services. other basic and housing land, for authorities on local pressure considerable putting refugees, environmental are dwellers slum percent about 30 of already We migration. that estimate inter-urban and local in increase inevitably will changes, climatic other together with rise, level Sea ra ff ic and must, provide leadership to three times more expensive to famous examples are the cities of and implement practical run and service than more densely China and India, but these are participatory programmes populated ones. increasingly aware of the need for urban communities. to minimize emissions through Many mayors in cities around Reducing transport’s impact is the improved integrated policies. the world are already carrying single most cost-effective measure out activities to encourage energy local governments can make African countries are often efficiency, renewable energy, towards mitigating climate change. considered to be low greenhouse cleaner production and Investment is urgently needed gas emitters but, before long, applying regulations to control to replace hydrocarbon-fuelled the continent’s transport will be industrial emissions. vehicles with environmentally a major source of emissions. By friendly transport. Priorities 2030, Africa will cease to be a Such good practices must must include developing rural continent. East African cities be shared. Many cities have non-carbon based fuels and are expanding at unprecedented established “cities in climate alternatives to the internal rates. Nairobi is one of the fastest- change networks” sharing combustion engine through growing cities in the world, with experiences and exchanging efficient solar and other systems of an annual growth rate of seven successful action plans. electrical power generation. per cent, and already suffers from UN-HABITAT and UNEP are inefficient urban transport services working together on the Cities UN-HABITAT also promotes and management, inadequate and Climate Change Initiative, human settlements development infrastructure, and high levels of part of SUD-Net, the Sustainable strategies that better integrate air pollution. Urban Development Network, land use planning, taking into to encourage inter-disciplinary account commuting distances. City authorities in both the Tackling traffic approaches. However, local For example, we promote public developed and developing authorities in the developing transport and non-motorized worlds must immediately work world need further assistance transport as alternatives to over- on integrated urban planning in areas such as capacity reliance on private automobiles to strategies that encourage compact building, technology transfer and meet future demand. cities, better public transport and technical support. minimized emissions. What does the future agenda for How can cities reduce emissions of transport hold? Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions
greenhouse gases from urban transport? 0,5% Rail
Almost all rapidly growing 7% Sea Urban transport is the planet’s developing country cities are
fastest-growing source of GHG moving towards a huge increase 13% Air emissions. Rapid increases in the in their needs for transport number of vehicles and related services. The most on city roads World transport energy demand and insufficient 79,5% Road Thousands of petajoule (1 petajoule = one thousand billion joule) investment in 600 urban transport planning and
traffic management 450 in developing countries are
exacerbating 300 air pollution and decreasing
economic 150 productivity. Low-density, sprawling cities 0 2005 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 Source: Evaluation des politiques publiques au regard des changements in developed climatiques, Climate Action Network (RAK), French Environmental and Source: Greenpeace International, European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), 2008. Energy Management Agency (Ademe), December 2005. countries are two
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 19 people
Marc Ona Essangui
has battled tirelessly to block the construction of Carlos Slim an iron ore mine in the Gabonese town of Belinga. The mine is being developed by a Chinese mining Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is one of the world’s and engineering company (CMEC), in partnership richest men. On World Environment Day 2009 he with the Gabonese Government. It will be powered launched a 100 million dollar project to protect Mexico’s by a large hydroelectric dam near Gabon’s highest environment along with the Mexican Government waterfall. Despite this, Ona claims that the Gabonese and the World Wildlife Fund. Slim hopes the project government has failed to consult the local population will generate jobs whilst protecting biodiversity in and has not assessed the impact of the development Mexico’s deserts, beaches and jungles. Slim has shown on the environment. Through his environmental that protecting our environment can be achieved by organization – Brainforest – Ona is fighting an uphill individuals who choose to partner with governments battle to protect the rich biodiversity and natural and non-governmental organizations. This kind of beauty of the proposed site, and in April 2009, he partnership is innovative in many parts of the world, was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for giving vision and direction to many a philanthropist, his activism. government and NGO.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan
Apa Sherpa spearheaded a legal battle, which resulted in increased government regulation and heightened The man who has climbed Mt Everest more times than any public awareness about ship breaking in Bangladesh. man in history is climbing it once again, this time for the sake From 2005 to 2007 more than 250 ships, with a total of the mountain he loves and the environment he seeks to weight in excess of 2.5 million tons, were broken on protect. Apa Sherpa has witnessed first hand the effect that the shores of Bangladesh. In part as a result of Hasan’s climate change is having on the Himalayan glaciers, which are work, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh directed the melting rapidly, leaving less and less drinking water for the closure of 36 ship breaking yards operating without millions that depend on them. By climbing the mountain for environmental clearance. Hasan plans to continue the 19th time, Sherpa has captured the world’s attention and her advocacy to ensure that the rulings are upheld. underscored the dangers facing the countries that rely on For her work Hasan was awarded the 2009 Goldman Himalayan melt water. Environment Prize for the Asia region.
20 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK President Mohamed Nasheed
With over one thousand islands in the Maldives and not one of them two metres above sea level it is not surprising that President Mohamed Nasheed Enrique Penalosa is concerned with the problem of rising sea levels as a result of climate change. President Nasheed Economist and former mayor, Enrique Penalosa has consistently illustrated how climate change can brought results to his city, Bogota. In just infringe on people’s basic human rights by destroying three years, Enrique Penalosa accomplished their livelihoods, their homes and their country. a great deal, including changing the way that Awarded the sixth Anna Lindh Prize for his work on Bogota residents travel around the city. He climate change, Nasheed continues to emphasize created a bus rapid transit system which now the devastating effects of climate change, while carries nearly two million people a day. He highlighting achievable solutions; In May this year, the also widened sidewalks, rebuilt deteriorating Maldives joined the Climate Neutral Network led by ones and created grand public spaces that UNEP, with a pledge to become the world’s first carbon- have improved the quality of life and the visual neutral nation by switching to renewable sources of appeal of Bogota. energy such as solar panels and wind turbines.
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
When Ugandan veterinarian Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London she returned home to become Uganda’s only wildlife vet. Having worked with mountain gorillas and local people in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kalema-Zikusoka gained enough insight, interest and passion to write a proposal to prevent further conflict between the rare mountain gorillas and humans. As a result, and despite stiff global competition for the funds, Kalema-Zikusok was awarded €60,00 from the Whitley Fund for Nature. The gorilla project she subsequently set up with the funds offers local people better healthcare and greater knowledge of their gorilla neighbours. It also allows her native Uganda to benefit from gorilla tourism without harming the apes.
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 21 Sustainable transport is a strategic career. Such traffic congestion is hour spent in a vehicle daily. Air component in developing not confined to the capital: the pollution causes diseases, especially competitive cities that seek to people of Mexico’s medium-sized in children and older people. If the © Randy Faris/Corbis protect the environment and cities have recently also been current trend continues, greenhouse health by substantially enhancing suffering exponential increases in gas emissions from transport their inhabitants’ quality of life. the time they spend travelling. will rise from 170 million to 440 million tons annually by 2030. It will ensure the competitiveness of It’s not just a matter of lost time, urban areas by enabling their people serious as that is. Extensive use Even more worrying, these to be productive, and contribute of motorized transport reduces, conditions are set to worsen. The socially and economically, rather or even eliminates, time spent number of vehicles on Mexican than spending hours stuck in walking every day, contributing roads rose 160 per cent from traffic. According to one survey, significantly to problems associated 8.5 million to 21.6 million between around 3.3 million person-hours with obesity and being overweight: 1996 and 2006, and — if this are lost every day to traffic jams in The World Health Organization, trend continues — will reach Mexico City, causing millions of says the potential for developing 70 million vehicles, more than one people to spend five years of their such problems increases by vehicle for every two inhabitants, lives in a car during their working six per cent with every extra by 2030. The results would be
Adriana de Almeida Lobo Director-General of the Centre for Sustainable Transportation – Mexico Cities the solution
22 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK devastating for our health, our © Jonathan Vázquez quality of life and the environment.
Strenuous efforts must be made to avoid this future. Solutions based on expanding the road network have proved to be ineffective and extremely costly. So, Mexican cities must change their transport patterns as a matter of extreme urgency. Developing a much more holistic approach that looks at urban development, the quality of public spaces, the creation of a system that would facilitate the first BRT line in Mexico, transport system encompassing safe walking and cycling and the carries between 104,000 and non-motorized alternatives, operation of rapid, efficient, safe 411,000 people daily on 15 km- providing decent and efficient and clean forms of public transport. long routes. Metrobús in Mexico conditions, consuming as little City, which transports up to energy as possible and proving For competitive urban growth, 450,000 people daily on 50 km competitive in terms of time- streets must be built on an of routes, cuts carbon dioxide saving, comfort, safety and cost. essentially human scale, taking emissions by approximately various modes of transport 80,000 tons per year. And Jaime Lerner, the Brazilian into account. Avenues should Macrobús in Guadalajara, which transport expert, says: “the be designed as to enhance went into operation in March city is not the problem, it is the their connectivity and shorten 2009, saves another 23,000 tons solution”. A holistic approach travelling distances, and should of C02 a year by taking 75,000 will enable Mexican cities and accommodate various forms of people a day along 16 km of routes. their inhabitants to remain transport, including walking competitive, while assuring their and cycling. Housing complexes Successful examples can also be quality of life and sustainable should provide their occupants found in other Latin American urban development, plus with all the amenities they need. cities like Bogota, Quito, Curitiba, contributing to the preservation Goiania and Belo Horizonte. of the planet through strategic Options must be found that would Indeed BRT had its roots in sustainable transport. enable an efficient transport Latin America and is now being system: journey times must be cut replicated in developed county and travel made safer and more cities such as Los Angeles, comfortable and cost-effective. Miami, Las Vegas, Madrid, One such system is bus rapid Paris and Vancouver. Its benefits transit (BRT) which, with the are demonstrated by the fact use of dedicated bus lanes, can that all these cities came to the provide all the advantages and same decision in choosing their benefits of modern rail-based urban transport systems. But existing transport systems at a fraction networks must be enlarged of the cost. Most successful and should be implemented in systems have: dedicated or priority cities that have yet to use it. lanes for public transport; rapid boarding and alighting; pre- The ultimate challenge is to make payment of fares and on-board most people mobile through “Developing a validation of tickets; modern, a far-reaching and much more holistic high capacity vehicles using efficient approach that looks at urban clean technology; and combined development, the quality of public spaces, © Jonathan Vázquez transport modes and tariffs. the creation of a system that would facilitate safe walking and cycling and the operation of rapid, Mexico has three examples. efficient, safe and clean forms of public transport.” Optibús in Ciudad de León,
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 23 UNEP Share the Road Initiative www http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/NMT_Roads/index.asp Improving the way in which roads are planned, financed, and built can help improve road safety and accessible mobility for all road users (including pedestrians and Transport: Useful Links cyclists), and reduce the environmental impact of road transport.
This page contains links to websites from governments, other websites international organizations, non-governmental organizations, businesses, media, and other groups from 50by50 Global Fuel Economy Initiative around the world to help you research issues related to www.50by50campaign.org transport. We have compiled these links from our own review This campaign aims to double auto fuel efficiency worldwide. of the vast amount of information available on the Internet to help you to find the most relevant sources for your research. Our Planet International Transport Forum magazine does not, however, endorse the viewpoints of any of the groups to which we link, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/ information posted on these sites. Rather, we hope to provide you with a The International Transport Forum is a global platform and meeting place for broad range of opinions and perspectives. transport, logistics and mobility. Make Cars Green www.unep.org http://www.makecarsgreen.org/ The International Car Federation (FIA)’s Make Cars Green campaign aims to help UNEP Transport Website reduce the impact of cars on the environment. The campaign’s ten points for http://www.unep.fr/energy/transport/ greener motoring encourage motorists to think green before they drive. UNEP’s website dedicated to transport encourages a move towards sustainable mobility. Car Lines http://www.walshcarlines.com/ UNEP Greener Driving Car Lines, a quarterly update on vehicle emissions, climate and air quality issued http://www.greener-driving.net/ by Michael Walsh, is a concise and informed rundown of the latest news in the This campaign, run jointly by UNEP and several sponsors from the automotive world of transport. industry, promotes sustainable mobility and explains the Greener Driving style. Hybrid Auto Rickshaw Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles http://hybridtuktuk.com/ http://www.unep.org/pcfv Auto-rickshaws, the primary means of transport for millions of people in Asia,
The Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) assists developing countries cause considerable air pollution and a large amount of CO2 emissions. Hybrid Auto to reduce vehicule air pollution through the promotion of lead-free, low-sulphur Rickshaws, on the other hand, produce 40 per cent less CO2 emissions than their fuels and cleaner vehicle standards and technologies. regular counterparts – thus contributing to better air quality in large Asian cities. And the icing on the cake: they are cheaper to fuel, too. UNEP Resource Efficiency Website http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/ Better Place UNEP works to promote resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and http://www.betterplace.com/ production in both developed and developing countries. The aim is to help public Better Place is the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) services provider, catalyzing and private decision makers implement policies and actions for resource efficiency the transition to sustainable transportation. To ensure that we can confidently and sustainable consumption and production. drive an EV anytime, anywhere, Better Place is developing and deploying EV driver services, systems and infrastructure. UNEP and Urban Issues http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/ Ecodrive UNEP supports governments to address key urban dimensions including air http://www.ecodrive.org pollution, coastal areas, waste, biodiversity, and climate change. This campaign encourages people to drive in a safer, more energy-efficient way.
Sustainable Urban Transport Project Metropolitan Administration (BMA), CITYNET World Health Organization - Urban http://www.sutp.org/ and the United Nations Economic and Social Environment The Sustainable Urban Transport Project Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). http://www.who.int/heli/risks/urban/ (SUTP)-Asia aims to help developing world urbanenv/en/ cities achieve their sustainable transport United Nations Economic Commission This website serves as a global directory of goals, through the dissemination of for Europe urban environment sites, including links to information about international experience http://www.unece.org/trans/welcome.html sites by UNEP, WHO (Healthy Cities Network), and targeted work with particular cities. The The Transport Division website of UNECE and other UN agencies (UN-HABITAT), initiative is a partnership between the German contains information on upcoming meetings, as well as development, research, academic
Transport websites websites Transport UN the across Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Bangkok surveys and new publications and brochures. and civil society sites.
24 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK © Piyal Adhikary/epa/Corbis
Darryl d’Monte President of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists Traffic jam
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 25 India’s capital is vying for the top bys. The system should also have rank in the league of the world’s imposed some order on Delhi’s most polluted cities, certainly for chaotic traffic, with cars switching
a metropolis of nearly 14 million lanes at random. But the benefits © Money Sharma/epa/Corbis people. The World Health were lost on drivers who protested Organisation has rated New Delhi vigorously when the first few days the fourth worst on the planet of the system brought interminable for suspended particulate matter traffic snarl-ups. And the media and respiratory diseases. Vehicles, spurred them on. many running on diesel, are largely responsible. With some 1.5 million Gautam Bhatia, a Delhi architect cars — as many as Mumbai, Chennai and an acerbic critic of unplanned and Kolkata put together — and growth, says: “The BRTS has more than twice as many two- faced the ire of Delhi’s middle wheelers and auto rickshaws, its air class. Connecting the city’s posh is acrid. southern colonies to the working district around Connaught Place, Conscious that this would come the experiment cut room for itself under scrutiny during next year’s on the centre of one of the busiest Commonwealth Games, the Delhi arteries, leaving little space for government ambitiously attempted private vehicles. Unused to the to introduce a Latin American- mismatch of road space between style Bus Rapid Transit System the private car and the public bus, (BRTS) last April, as part of a multi- many have raised their voices.” pronged initiative to improve city transport, which also will include Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who a separate light rail system. It was had been the most ardent champion tutored by transport experts from of the scheme, had no choice but the prestigious Indian Institute of to backtrack and water it down. Technology (IIT) and experimented “The government was never serious,” with a full-fledged BRTS on a 5.8 complained one expert involved km-long route, with a reserved bus with the scheme. “They never lane in the centre of the road and understood the system. The media another set aside for cyclists. was also irresponsible in creating hysteria about the dislocation The IIT experts were taking their of traffic.” cue from Curitiba in Brazil and Bogota in Colombia, where a BRTS Meanwhile, Pune has introduced has worked wonders and is held a semblance of a BRTS and is up as an exemplar for the world. embarking on a second phase, but Enrique Penalosa, the former Mayor it isn’t a full-fledged system like of Bogota, visited Delhi a few years Delhi’s, with a designated bus ago and strongly advocated such corridor and stops and disabled- a system for the 60 per cent of the friendly access to buses. Ahmedabad population which use buses daily. is to follow suit. But the expert added: “No city or government The administration, however, did has understood the significance not foresee the wrath of motorists, of public transport. You need to who were squeezed into a seven- give it priority. Here, there are metre-wide space, as against 10.5 compromises all along the way, with Metro, where the first 65-km-long metres they had previously enjoyed, cars being given priority, which phase opened in 2002 and its 128-km as a result of the dedicated lanes amounts to a total waste of money.” second route is due to be completed — though they benefited from the next year. It has been held up as an removal of bus stops from the main At first glance, Delhi’s BRTS engineering marvel, caused relatively road area and the creation of lay- compares unfavourably with its little dislocation during construction
26 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK Cars in the World Billions of vehicles 3,0
2,5
2,0
1,5
1,0
0,5
0 2005 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 United States China Other developing economies Other advanced economies India Source: The Economist, 2008.
colonies of south Delhi. It public transport is “a hundred-year- provides speedy travel in air- old concept” and that all the world’s conditioned comfort, avoiding tramlines were put in the centre of the chaos on the roads. roads and remain there. He adds “Only in cities where the trams were However, the Metro’s 90 trains taken out under pressure from the only carry 800,000 passengers car industry was public transport a day, as against the 6.5 million pushed to the side. It took a long who take the bus. And it is too time for people to realise that we expensive for casual and migrant should go back to the idea of keeping labourers, who make up the public transport in the middle.” bulk of the city’s workers. The monorail and light rail system In 2002, the Supreme Court — will carry still fewer passengers, goaded by the late environmental when it is built. The BRTS journalist Anil Agarwal who costs a fraction of these capital- founded the CSE — ruled that all intensive projects. Indeed two public vehicles (buses, taxis and surveys, by the Centre for Science auto rickshaws) should switch to & Environment (CSE) and the compressed natural gas (CNG) to rid NDTV news channel, found that Delhi of its pollution. It was the first commuters, bus drivers and even city in the world to do this. But with some motorists thought that it over a thousand vehicles — a third had improved traffic. Someone using diesel — registered in the city has to bite the bullet as they did every day, the sheer volume of traffic in Bogota where, initially, there has negated this measure. were similar protests. and — uncharacteristically for India “We will have to take tough measures — is being built ahead of schedule. Prof Dinesh Mohan from IIT says: to control growing air pollution, It started by choosing the right “People who criticise the BRTS and and fast,” says CSE Director Sunita commuting routes for the capital’s question the central bus lane will Narain. “Otherwise Delhi will find government officials and is only now have to go back to basics”. He points itself choked in the toxic haze of the connecting the better-off residential out that using the central lane for pre-CNG era.”
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 27 © Car Culture/Gallo images/Getty Culture/Gallo © Car images
Lillian Borrone Chair of the Board of the Eno Transportation Foundation DRIVING REFORM
Concerns about energy security and climate change have moved to the forefront of the public and political agenda, both in the United States and worldwide, and this has created the most significant opportunities for change in generations. Profound changes must occur in transport policy, in both developed and developing nations, to combat global climate change and localized air pollution, to reduce global dependence on oil, and to spur the global clean energy technology revolution now being embraced by leaders the world over.
28 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK The United States is moving to integrates environmental and own context and needs — how their reduce its dependence on oil, but economic concerns, while holding transport projects can best meet much more remains to be done. The funded projects accountable to federal goals. Corporate Average Fuel Economy specific performance objectives. (CAFE) regulations, enacted in However, even more robust and NTPP advocates four other main 1975 to improve the average fuel interdisciplinary transport reform goals — in addition to energy economy of automobiles in this efforts are needed to achieve security and environmental country, were revised in 2007, to energy security and environmental protection — to govern federal raise the national fuel economy protection goals. transport policy: economic standard to 35 miles per gallon growth, national connectivity, (mpg) by 2020. This spring Many experts and users of the metropolitan accessibility, and President Obama announced a US transport system have joined safety. It recommends that the goal to require passenger vehicle in calling for a policy overhaul. US government distribute funding fleets to have an average of As a member of the National to programmes that advance 35.5 mpg by 2016. America Transportation Policy Project them. Under this strategy, energy recognizes that its dependence on (NTPP) of the Bipartisan Policy and climate priorities would oil gives rise to economic, national Center in Washington, DC, be fully integrated in transport security and environmental I have been part of a group with investment decisions. concerns. If these challenges are a broad diversity of political to be truly addressed, we must views and professional experience Achieving these goals requires view them as integrated elements seeking to find common ground a methodology for measuring in a national sustainable transport for significant reform and to progress, and NTPP has developed policy, rather than as a series of reach a bipartisan consensus that eight performance metrics that discrete policies. addresses the environmental and together form a comprehensive energy impacts of transport, among method for this. These target oil Legislators and the Obama other concerns. dependence and climate change Administration have an through two specific measures: opportunity — and a challenge — The results are both innovative petroleum consumption and CO2 to reform national transport policy and achievable. We call for emissions. Including these, along since the federal surface transport a performance-driven policy with other performance metrics, programme is approaching a approach, linking funding to a ensures that progress toward any 30 September deadline for clear set of goals and holding one goal is not measured in isolation, reauthorization. Some important recipients accountable for results. but as part of an integrated strategy reform efforts have already begun. Current federal policy distributes of sustainable transport. For example, the Highways and funding and then tackles Transit Subcommittee of the objectives: NTPP’s recommended The NTPP’s bipartisan approach Transportation and Infrastructure approach turns this on its head and emphasis on clearly measurable (T&I) Committee of the US by first describing national values goals can serve as the foundation House of Representatives — under and defining a set of goal-oriented for US transport policy reform. the leadership of Committee performance metrics, and only then Transport and energy policy are Chairman James Oberstar of allocating funding to projects that inextricably linked, and the stage Minnesota, Ranking Member John promise progress toward them. is set for reform. Citizens and Mica, Subcommittee Chairman This bottom-up approach better elected officials are aware and Peter DeFazio, and Ranking empowers states and localities concerned about both the climate Member John Duncan, Jr. — has in the decision-making process: and economic crises. Policymakers crafted legislation that includes a they are, after all, best able to must be able to incorporate provision for setting greenhouse determine how funding should these issues into comprehensive gas emission reduction targets, and be allocated to meet local needs national sustainable transport other performance standards with while delivering national priorities. policy that integrates measures of which states and local governments The NTPP promotes mode- accountability. The US will then be can begin to measure their neutral planning that does not able to evaluate the impacts of its progress. This is a positive step advocate a specific modal split, but policy both on national goals and towards creating a comprehensive instead leaves it to state and local on its contribution to such global national transport policy that jurisdictions to — based on their ones as reducing CO2 emissions.
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 29 ED: WANT EcoMobility
Konrad Otto-Zimmermann and Verónica Pérez Sueiro
Secretary General and Advocacy & PR Coordinator, Global Alliance for EcoMobility.
In an age of rapid mobility, fragmented ecological habitats people and goods are moving ever and health hazards: the list faster and further both between seems endless. Road transport and within cities. But the era of can also lower economic the car is unsustainable. With productivity while adding to almost 1 billion cars — a number climate change. South Korea’s that has doubled in the last “It is economy, due to its traffic decades — and the expansion of a new way congestion, has lost an amount economic activity, more roads equivalent to around four per have fueled more vehicles, at of traveling cent of the country’s GDP. even greater cost. in an era challenged Individually, motor vehicles Road transport alone accounts for by environmental blows.” with combustion engines 4.7 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, affect us and the health of our 17% of world energy-related families. Its dust and soot are emissions. Cars also contribute far more damaging to human to congestion, air pollution, health than previously believed. urban sprawl, road accidents, The WHO estimates that over
30 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK © Smart Creatives/Corbis© Smart
0.8 million people die prematurely each year from Together these initiatives are altering the familiar outdoor urban fine particulate matter, to which road experience of choking traffic, perilous roads and traffic contributes. low vehicle speeds, proving that non-individual motorized forms of transport can be a real choice. Many cities across the world are reacting, and Cities are creating accessible, safe, comfortable and refusing to follow the misguided footsteps of the affordable public transport systems and introducing developed world. As they grow, these cities re- new policies to reduce inner city traffic. According discovering the merits of public transport, cycling and to the city, some 290,000 people now use Rio de walking, and investing in them. Governmental and Janeiro’s 140 km of bicycle lanes every day, avoiding non-governmental organizations are addressing how the emission of around 66,000 tones of CO2 a year. roads are planned, financed, and built to ensure that Cape Town is considering plans to allow road space is available to all users — including bicyclists bicycle-commuters greater access to the inner city. and pedestrians. The United Nations Environment Other popular initiatives include the dedicated Programme and the FIA Foundation, along with Transmilenio bus lane in Bogota, London’s other partners, have launched a global initiative called Congestion Charge and the community bicycle ‘Share the Road: Minimum 10% Finance for Safety, programmes of Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Changwon Sustainability and Accessibility’. in Korea.
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 31 “Koprivnica...... is leading the way. It has increased barriers to road traffic, constructed cycling tracks, created green spaces, and introduced community bicycles.”
Cities are also harvesting the potential of integrating different transport forms, making riders passengers and passengers riders, providing many more choices to GHG Emissions by means of transport travelers and commuters, and benefiting (Grams of CO2 equivalents per passenger and per kilometre) employers and local governments as well. The Bicycling Empowerment Network, SUV (solo driver) 450 based in South Africa, imports bicycles from Europe, the Americas and Asia and 400 distributes them to schools and teachers, 350 Sedan farm and health-care workers, among others — a successful example of promoting cleaner, 300 Airplane more affordable and more democratic forms 250 of mobility. Hybrid car 200 So is the age of EcoMobility dawning? Compact car 150 Despite progress, cities and communities Transit bus (3/4 full) Rail (50 occupants per car) have still many challenges. Traditional and 100 polluting modes of transport are enshrined Walking - 50 into the physical form of cities. The individual Bike behavior of citizens and the status of the car 0 have to be reappraised and local businesses, Note: Walking and bike emission due to respiration and phisiological processes. Source: Sightline Institute, 2009. investors and community leaders need to become aware of the benefits of other forms of transport. The Global Alliance for EcoMobility brings together a For the age of EcoMobility the physical infrastructures diversity of actors, with businesses, local governments, of cities will have be re-designed and retro-fitted for safer experts, and user associations playing important roles. travel Community leaders will need to raise awareness Its mission has been embraced by such key actors as the of the health benefits and joyful aspects of using bicycles United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and and walking in safe and secure environments. the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT); Shimano, Giant, Trek, Dahon and Koprivnica, a city of some 31,000 people in northern Accell Group from the bicycle industry; the European Croatia, is leading the way. It has increased barriers to Cyclists Federation and the League of American road traffic, constructed cycling tracks, created green Bicyclists. Operating internationally, it seeks to raise spaces, and introduced community bicycles. Streets are the profile of EcoMobility across disciplinary and being reclaimed for people by traffic-calming providing territorial boundaries and advocates it at international school traveling programs and work travel plans. policy forums and climate change negotiations. It has held cycling festivals, open-air bicycle museums, and campaigns for cycling and walking. The city won The age of EcoMobility is under way. Urban planning the ICLEI Cities Enjoy Bicycles Award in 2006 and, — preventing endless cities through urban sprawl — is two years later, received the European Mobility Week as much part of it as are local awareness, community Award, supported by the European Commission, for leadership, employers’ support, and new investment its “comprehensive action plan” which “aims to make opportunities. It is a new way of traveling in an era the city 100% accessible to all.” It is continuing its challenged by environmental blows, yet — safe, secure, work by improving active access and providing scenic healthy, affordable, equitable, and informed by greater cycling routes. choice — its merits remain personal.
32 OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK awards and
World Bioenergy – Clean Vehicles & Fuels 2009 is a special joint event events combining two leading international events. It will be held in Stockholm, Sweden from 16-18 September and will combine the world’s premier bioenergy gathering – World Bioenergy, with Clean Vehicles & Fuels – the leading European event for sustainable transport solutions. The event is focused on the practical implementation of bioenergy systems and sustainable transport solutions covering the whole chain; from policy making and procurement through to technology roll-out and systems evaluation. Clean Up the World is a community based environmental campaign – C lean V e h icles W orld B ioenergy & F uels http://www.elmia.se/en/wbcvf/ held in partnership with UNEP that inspires and empowers individuals and communities from every corner Global Climate Week will be held from 21-25 of the globe to clean up, fix up and September 2009, and is planned to coincide conserve their environment. To with the United Nations Secretary-General’s C lean U p t h e W orld eekend find out how you can help with High-Level Summit on Climate Change on Clean Up the World Weekend, 18-20 22 September. This important week will be September, and to learn more visit marked by synchronized activities in more than 100 cities to urge world leaders to seal http://www.cleanuptheworld.org and a fair and effective climate agreement at
W eek C li m ate G lobal find us on: the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen this December. Global Climate Week will unite efforts, whether individual or collective, calling for urgent action to combat climate change. ward Find out how to get involved: http://www. The Institute for Transportation sealthedeal2009.org and Development Policy (ITDP) presented New York City with the Sustainable Transport Award in The battle to create more sustainable cities and January 2009. New York City earned urban environments – environmentally and the award as a result of its PlaNYC ward socially – is one of the most decisive factors 2030 initiative - a long-term city facing the UN Climate Change Conference in sustainability strategy. This annual Copenhagen in December. For this reason the award honours a city that uses Göteborg Award shares one million Swedish T ransport A S ustainable innovative transportation strategies
G oteborg A kroner between three people who have found to enhance the sustainability and new solutions to these challenges. This year’s livability of its communities, while winners were announced in June, and included also reducing greenhouse gas one of the people featured in this edition of Our and air pollution emissions. The city Planet – Anna Tibaijuka. received accolades for transforming 49 acres of road space, traffic lanes and http://www.goteborgaward.com/se/ parking spaces into 255 kilometres of protected on-street bike lanes, as well as pedestrian areas and public plazas. Bike ridership increased by 35 per cent from the past year. The city planted more than 98,000 trees, implemented a select bus service and introduced car- free Saturdays. Honourable mentions went to the other award finalists, Beijing, Istanbul, Mexico City and Milan. Co-organized by the Ministry of Energy of Mexico and the United Nations http://itdp.org/index.php/news_ F oru m Industrial Development Organization events/news_detail/new_york_city_ (UNIDO), the Global Renewable Energy wins_2009_sustainable_transport Forum will take place on 7-9 October _award/ 2009 in León, Mexico. The Global Forum will provide a platform for profiling leadership in regard to the promotion of renewable energy and highlight country initiatives that support the development of alternative energy systems. E nergy R enewable G lobal
http://www.grefmexico2009.org/
OUR PLANET ON THE RIGHT TRACK 33 MICHELLE YEOH
It is good to have Michelle Yeoh on your side in a fight, for the former Miss Malaysia punches far above the weight of a stereotypical beauty queen. The star of the multiple Acadamy Award- winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — renowned for performing her own stunts — has been ranked as the greatest action heroine of all time. And she far exceeded the typical role of a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, that her co-star, Pierce Brosnan, called her “a female James Bond”.
So it is thoroughly good news that she has taken up the battle for sustainable and safe transport, working with UNEP and the FIA Foundation in two important campaigns. The ‘50by50 Initiative’ — in which they are joined by the International Energy Agency and the International Transport Forum — aims to reduce the fuel consumption per kilometre of the world’s car fleet by 50 per cent by 2050. And ‘Share the Road’, with the International Road Assessment Programme, presses for ten per cent of road building investment to be devoted to sustainability and safety features, such as encouraging walking and cycling.
“Safe mobility should be seen as a basic human right, like access to clean drinking water”, she told Our Planet. “It is a basic requirement to help millions improve their life chances and climb out of poverty.”
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But, she adds, she is “most passionate” about road safety. “ child dies or is seriously injured. crashes live in middle and low-income countries, and a rise of more than 80 per cent in road deaths in these countries by 2020 is predicted.
“We are facing a problem of epidemic proportions and — in addition to the tragic human cost — it is undermining our development efforts. developing countries lose approximately $100 billion every year due to road crashes — roughly equal to the amount of all development aid.” www.unep.org/ourplanet