[sustran] CDM Projects (Clean Development Mechanism) - public transport

[Eric Britton]

Re: Commentary on future role and contribution of CfM - and what we all can
do about it.

 

Dear Friends,

 

This topic has been extremely interesting information and views on a number
of grounds, and as you seen has in effect split into two sets of
considerations. The first directly addressing the CDM issues -- and the
second concerning the role and contribution of the Cities for Mobility (CfM)
program from Stuttgart. I think both conversations are terrific but in this
note would like just to share with you a few thoughts on the latter.

 

I've been following the CfM program from its origins in with great interest
including for the reasons that Brian Williams has pointed out: the fact that
in a world of many strongly felt, urgent needs it's probably not a wise idea
to eliminate possible sources of new ideas, new competences and new energy,
just because we may not always agree with them. We also need to bear in mind
that in this time of so many fundamental challenges and shifts, all of us
are continually adapting to the new information and situation as we go
along. Were we not to do this, we would be pretty poor souls indeed.

 

That said, let me comment briefly on two aspects of the CfM program as I
understand it.

 

Let's start with the critical commentary concerning the thrust of the
messages which are being sent out from the organization's headquarters,
which to some here are far too focused on vehicle technologies and fuels, as
opposed to the more strategic policy and management aspects which indeed
hold the key to the system sustainability.  We all here understand that the
key to the issues of reforming transport in cities lies specifically and
above all to the massive reduction of car traffic in cities -- and not to
new kinds of vehicles or new and cleaner kinds of fuels. That is not to say
that these last are not desirable and do not have a role in the longer-term,
but the real challenges lie in doing something about this in the next months
and couple of years directly ahead. This is something you either agree with
or don't, but I read the position of most of those participating in our
several related groups and discussions as agreeing with the importance of
coming to grips with these issues without further delay.

 

So, if I can, I would urge the organizers over there in Stuttgart to
consider the idea of a major course change in the navigation under this
program. To make it very simple, I would suggest that the orientation of all
aspects of the program, those messages from their listserv group included,
be now strongly oriented to issues of mobility management and the strategic
details of managing the shift from what is essentially a car-based
system/paradigm, to programs, modes and systems that offer a broad range of
alternative ways of getting around in cities which are more efficient, more
environmental, and more people and community friendly.

 

That's the critical part, but there is considerably more to CfM than that.
The real accomplishments of their program have to do with the extent to
which they have over the last couple of years -- let's not forget it's quite
a new program -- brought together hundreds of cities and partners in many
parts of the world in a way that seems to have their attention. This is a
considerable accomplishment and is one which is certainly the crux of their
contribution.

 

The challenge now is to build on this, and I think all of us here can have a
role in this. So let's keep talking to each other about this, let's keep
sharing our thoughts with the CfM organizers, and sure enough, some good
things are going to come out of this. And they better had or otherwise we
are in even deeper trouble!

 

As always,

 

Eric