[sustran] Press Release: Good News for Copenhagen - Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies

[Todd Alexander Litman]

Here is good news for everyone seeking smart ways to reduce climate 
change. <http://www.vtpi.org/wwclimate.pdf>"Win-Win" transportation 
emission reduction strategies provide substantial energy conservation 
and emission reductions while also achieving economic and social objectives.

Why Transportation?
When it comes to reducing emissions, transportation is special 
because it has so many impacts on people and the economy. Win-win 
strategies reduce climate change emission in ways that provide 
substantial co-benefits, including congestion reductions, 
infrastructure cost savings, consumer savings, traffic safety, 
improved mobility for non-drivers, and improved public fitness and 
health. Implemented to the degree justified by their economic 
benefits, these strategies can reduce emissions by 30-50% compared 
with what would otherwise occur. These are no-regret strategies that 
are justified regardless of any uncertainty about climate change risks.

A Paradigm Shift
Efficient transportation requires more comprehensive and integrated 
planning, which considers indirect and external impacts, and so 
identifies the policies that provide the greatest total benefits to 
society. Considering all benefits and costs, 
<http://www.movingcooler.info/>Win-Win strategies are often the best 
way to reduce transportation emissions.

Consumer Benefits (Live Long and Prosper)
Win-Win transportation solutions benefit consumers directly by 
improving transportation options (better walking and cycling 
conditions, better public transport services, and innovations such as 
carsharing, telework and delivery services), by providing new 
opportunities to save money, and by creating more accessible, 
multi-modal communities. This provides significant public 
<http://www.convergencepartnership.org/transportationhealthandequity>health 
benefits including accident reductions, improved public fitness, and 
improved access to health services.

Supporting Economic Development
By increasing transportation system efficiency, Win-Win strategies 
<http://www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf>increase economic productivity and 
support economic development. They do this by reducing inefficiencies 
such as traffic congestion, road and parking infrastructure costs, 
accident and pollution damages, and the cost burden of importing 
petroleum to fuel vehicles. <http://www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf>Recent 
research shows that economic productivity (per capita GDP) increases 
in a region with higher public transit ridership, land use densities 
and fuel prices, and declines with increased motor vehicle travel. 
This is basic economics: a more efficient transportation system 
increases productivity. Fortunately, it also reduces pollution 
emissions. Thats good news from here to Copenhagen.


For more information:

"Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies" ( 
www.vtpi.org/wwclimate.pdf )

"Smart Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies" 
(<http://www.vtpi.org/ster.pdf>www.vtpi.org/ster.pdf )

"Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified? Evaluating Mobility 
Management Policy Objectives Such As Targets To Reduce VMT And 
Increase Use Of Alternative Modes" 
(<http://www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf>www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf )

"Moving Cooler: Transportation Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions" (<http://www.movingcooler.info>www.movingcooler.info)

"Evaluating Transportation Economic Development Impacts" 
(<http://www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf>www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf )

"The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, 
Equitable Transportation Reform in America" 
(<http://www.convergencepartnership.org/transportationhealthandequity>www.convergencepartnership.org/transportationhealthandequity).

"Drive Less, Pay Less: Environmental and Transportation Groups Unveil 
Performance Standard for Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance" ( 
http://www.ceres.org/Page.aspx?pid=1157 )


Sincerely,
Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
litman at vtpi.org
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"