[sustran] Re: WBCSD report - general commentary

[John Ernst]

I agree with Eric Britton's overview of the situation [sustran - 21 July 04].

While it's tempting to attack and bash, "knowledge, firmness and 
compassion" are more effective (not that we see much of it these 
days).  Further, if business interests are to support sustainability they 
should have some good business reasons to do so.

Two thoughts:

1) Even not considering the broader social and environmental consequences, 
which can be blurred by promises of zero-pollution, renewable energy 
powered vehicles; the car-centered approach falls short in 1 key area that 
any business-person can see in their bottom-line: congestion.  Despite the 
SACTRA report now being 10-years old, the average person still sees 
road-building as the solution to congestion.  It would seem the WBCSD also 
needs some convincing.

2) Car ownership is an emotional issue, as well as (for now) a profit 
powerhouse.  We would do well to disconnect car ownership from 
use.  (Thirty years ago business opposed energy conservation measures, 
saying energy use and economic production were linked.  No longer. )   Car 
ownership per 1000 persons is used as an index of car-centricity of a 
city.  Better to aim measures at the actual trips taken, and specifically 
those during congested periods.  Let the individual then decide about 
owning a car.

Both of these points support an emphasis on demand management.  While there 
are many methods (see Todd Litmann's on-line encyclopedia at 
www.vtpi.org/tdm), one of the most effective is user charging, which 
London's successful congestion charging scheme has brought to the 
forefront.  A good business analysis of road user pricing  -- inspired by 
London's success -- was provided last year by Deloitte Consulting; see 
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/press_release/0,2309,sid%253D%2526cid%253D28904,00.html. 


Best,
John


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John Ernst   -  Director, Asia Region
    ITDP - The Institute for Transport and Development Policy
Subscribe to ITDP's Sustainable Transport e-update at www.itdp.org
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