[sustran] Re: Efficient Transport News (fwd)

Tamim Raad raad at interchange.ubc.ca
Fri Dec 18 10:20:07 JST 1998


This item from Lee Schipper was posted to another group, but may be of
interest here.

Tamim.

>Subject: Re: Efficient Transport News
>
>I thought many of you would appreciate this summary of a recent
>meeting organized at the Bank on transport and CO2 in developing countries
>and the possibilities for collaboration between the World Bank Group
>and vehicle manufacturers. 
>Please feel free to consult the WEb site
>for a more detailed description, www.back-to-work.com/clearingtheair.html
>
>Here is the summary of the meeting
>
>CLEARING THE AIR
>Partnerships for Bank Group/GEF Investment  Opportunities in Alternative 
>Vehicles for Lower Pollution and CO2 Emissions
> A Vehicle Industry/World Bank Roundtable
>Lee Schipper and Robin Segal
>
>The World Bank plays an important role in lending for transportation in 
>many Developing Countries and Economies in Transition. The Environment 
>Department commissioned a paper by Dr. Lee Schipper and Ms. Celine 
>Marie-Liliu of the International Energy Agency to discuss the scope for 
>Bank action to address both local and global problems related to 
>transportation (Transport and CO2  Emissions -- Flexing the Link: A Path 
>for the World Bank, Environment Department, forthcoming).
>
>One major finding of that paper was that initiatives to restrain GHG 
>emissions should be aligned closely with overall strategies to reform the 
>transport sector. Vigorous research and marketing of new low-fuel, clean 
>vehicles is a key element of a durable strategy to combat both air 
>pollution and rising CO2 emissions in developing countries.  Further, 
>significant restraint in the growth in CO2 emissions from transport can 
>only occur as a result of Bank activities if the Bank works directly with 
>vehicle companies, both on matters of technology and policy. 
>
>Recently, vehicle manufacturers themselves have entered into discussions 
>with the Bank Group to explore options for leveraging lending to achieve 
>the pollution reduction and CO2 restraint goals. Consequently, the World 
>Bank, together with the International Energy Agency, organized a 
>Roundtable in Washington DC on Oct 29/30 1998 that explored interactions 
>and relationships between the World Bank and the major suppliers of motor 
>vehicles, (including two- and three-wheelers, automobiles, buses, and 
>trucks) that could accelerate the pace of developments leading to GHG 
>restraint.  
>
>The seminar was attended by representatives and experts from motor 
>vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. (Chrysler, Ford, GM), Japan (Toyota, 
>Honda), and Europe (Daimler-Benz, Fiat, Volvo, Skoda), as well as key 
>representatives of the industry in India (Bajaj, and the Association of 
>Indian Automobile Manufacturers). They were joined by several divisions 
>of the Bank, the IFC, the GEF, and a limited number of officials of 
>outside organizations with similar interests.  The Roundtable is 
>described in detail in an interactive write up at 
>www.back-to-work.com/clearingtheair.html, from which this paper is extracted.
>
>The Roundtable consisted of several parts. It began with a reception that 
>included the screening of an introductory video, "Clearing the Air", 
>produced for the Roundtable.  The video portrayed key transport issues in 
>a familiar setting. In this video, Drs. Schipper and  Segal posed several 
>questions to viewers, inviting them to take an active part in addressing 
>CO2 emissions from transport in the developing world. 
>
>The participants were then divided into three groups for discussion.  
>Each group confronted a particular scenario familiar to transport 
>planners: "Asthma", in which health problems arising from vehicle air 
>pollution become a major issue and cost to local and national 
>governments;  "Gridlock", in which congestion imparts serious slow-downs 
>and major economic costs to economies of developing countries; "Dry 
>Well", in which various factors cut the supply of liquid fuels to 
>transportation and raise prices. Each scenario's "cast" was composed of 
>three or four "World Bank Project Officers"; two representatives from a 
>fictitious vehicle manufacturing corporation; a mayor and director of the 
>local transportation authority of the city, or capital city of the 
>country, portrayed in the scenario; and three or four of each country's 
>ministers of finance, transportation, environment, health, and energy/mines.
>
>The groups responded by playing out these scenarios: The "Asthma" group 
>reported a number of measures that could improve the air, as expressed by 
>those "playing" the roles of World Bank Officials. The "Gridlock" group, 
>by contrast, had little to report, as the "Mayor of Bangkok" announced he 
>would not stand for re-election. They shied away from pricing or other 
>behavior measures in favor of hoped-for technology.  The "Dry Well" group 
>repudiated the conditions of their scenario, saying that there was no 
>credible case on anyone's horizon for long-term fuel shortages-under such 
>a scenario, China would produce liquid fuels from coal. Generally all 
>participants were sensitized to the difficult issues facing 
>transportation in developing countries even before considering greenhouse 
>gas emissions, which most agreed were not perceived as high priority in 
>developing countries.
>
>On the following day, visitors were given an introduction to key Bank 
>Groups and their functions in transportation lending, environmental 
>lending, transportation and environmental policy, and potential roles in 
>working for low-carbon transportation systems. 
>
>For lunch, we again divided into groups, this time to discuss six 
>potential projects on our plates: 
>
>1- Station Cars (vehicles, refueling, regulations, payment system).
>2- Fuel Switching (retrofits, vehicle retirement [scrappage]).
>3- Bus Network (routes, dedicated lanes, time-of-day, infrastructure).
>4- Alternative Fuels (fuel cell, gas, electricity, cars & buses, 
>refueling infrastructure).
>5- Electric Two- and Three- Wheelers.
>6- Electronic Road Pricing (tolls, cars, outfitting, and infrastructure 
>issues).
>
>Generally it was not easy to formulate "Bankable" projects whereby Bank 
>Group facilities could provide extra funds for governments and private 
>manufacturers to bring forth the kinds of technologies implied by these 
>projects.  Nevertheless each group presented a number of provocative 
>ideas, which were amplified later by the interactive write up on the 
>website. One key issue that emerged from all projects was the way the 
>cast of players stretches beyond a single vehicle company, government 
>agency, or even one part of the World Bank or other lender.
>
>At the conclusion several important opinions were offered. World Bank 
>representatives suggested that areas in which the Bank could contribute 
>in partnerships with the vehicle industry are in risk-sharing within 
>introduction of new technologies, and in trade barrier reduction. They 
>offered recognition of GEF as a grant facility, a tool able to supply 
>opportunities for pilot projects at low cost to investing companies. They 
>further suggested that the more upstream and integrated the approach, the 
>more chance for impact any project might have, and that the best chance 
>of making an impact is to piggyback on local pollution issues.
>
>Vehicle company participants offered a wide range of closing opinions.  
>One noted that the build-up of anthropogenic CO2 is inevitable, therefore 
>any company that voluntarily limits CO2 in its products is volunteering 
>to go out of business.  One suggested that we must approach CO2 by 
>focusing on local problems.  Another offered that industry tends to 
>produce large, integrated systems and their components, rather than 
>small, inexpensive vehicles.  Many felt there is not at present enough of 
>a crisis (in terms of carbon emissions) for us to do anything. It was 
>also noted that developing countries need to solve problems with 
>policies, not rely on technology alone.
>
>Participants offered several suggestions for follow-up activities, 
>ranging from repeating the Roundtable with other industries (fuel, 
>smaller transport companies, start-up technology firms), as well as in 
>other areas of World Bank interests.  With the availability of the 
>interactive write-up, the discussion continued until 1 December 1998.
>
>
>Mr. Meter (Lee Schipper),
>International Energy Studies, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
>On Leave to the International Energy Agency,
>9 rue de la Federation,75739  Paris 15 CEDEX, France
>FAX 33 1 40576749   PHONE 33 1 40576714 (1 = 01 if from France)
>
>
>
>
------------------
***PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN MY EMAIL ADDRESS***
Tamim Raad
Point Grey RPO, Box 39150
Vancouver, British Columbia  V6R 4P1
CANADA
Tel: 1 (604) 879-4432 (h)
     1 (604) 879-4436 (w)
Email: raad at interchange.ubc.ca



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