[sustran] Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia (SUMA) News Digest Vol. 6 Issue 8 – 6 November 2009

[Kaye Patdu]

*Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia (SUMA) News Digest Vol. 6 Issue 8 – 6
November 2009 *

SUMA News Digest is a free monthly e-mail publication that features news,
information, and events related to sustainable urban transportation in Asia.


*** VISIT THE SUMA PAGES: http://www.cleanairnet.org/suma ***

*SUMA PARTNERS ON THE MOVE! *

*SUMA Summit 29-30 October 2009, Delhi India*

Cities in Asia need to pay closer attention to sustainable transport
strategies and investments as a way to address growing traffic problems and
reduce air pollution and address climate change.  This is the message that
about 85 participants echoed in a two-day international summit that marked
the conclusion of the Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia program.

The main objective of the Summit is to present and discuss the outputs and
experiences of the SUMA program to Indian and Asian stakeholders
particularly government officials.  Drawing from the lessons in SUMA, the
Summit also aimed to discuss future trends and issues relevant to promote
SUT in India and the rest of Asia and develop a common position of the
future of SUT in Asia.

As part of the SUMA Summit, a mass rapid transit/BRT planning training
course was conducted on 27-28 October 2009 in Delhi.  This was followed by a
Technical BRT Site Visit in Ahmedabad on 31 October to 1 November 2009.

For summit presentations and additional information, please visit *
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73602.html*

*SUMA Summit Pre-Event: Mass Rapid Transit/BRT Planning Training Course
27-28 October 2009, Delhi India*

As a part of the SUMA program, GTZ and CAI-Asia held a two-day course on
Mass Rapid Transit/BRT Planning in 27-28 October in Hotel Ramada Plaza,
Delhi.  The course was designed specifically for policy-makers, transport
engineers, urban planners and academia.

Course trainers were from World Resources Institute (WRI-EMBARQ), Institute
for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP), German Technical Cooperation
(GTZ), Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University,
Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) and Delhi Integrated Multi-modal
Transit System (DIMTS).

Read more @
http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1777&Itemid=132&lang=uk

*CAI-Asia Center Joins Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
(SLoCaT)*

A new Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) was launched
in Bangkok, Thailand on 25 September with the aim to actively contribute
options and advice on the development of sustainable transport systems
worldwide to inform the international climate change negotiations.  SLoCat
is pushing for reductions in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, and
urges that the climate change agreement to be reached in COP 15 in
Copenhagen this December tackle this issue.

In addition to the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center, SLoCat
includes the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA), the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank and the
Inter-American Development Bank among many notable organizations. The
Partnership currently has over 30 members.

Read more @ http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73603.html.

*NEWS REPORTS*

*HEADLINES*

*Bangladesh: *Dhaka traffic at standstill 7.5 hours a day*
*http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26232746-12377,00.html

*Bhutan: *First railway station to be at Toribari*
**http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13713*

*Brunei: *Decline in Brunei’s road accidents
*
http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/200910098099/Local-News/decline-in-bruneis-road-accidents.html
*

*India: *Not flyovers, adopt mass transit system: Experts
*
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Not-flyovers-adopt-mass-transit-system-Experts/articleshow/5113753.cms
*

*Indonesia: *Car free day reduces air pollution
http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/en/newsview.aspx?idwil=0&id=12799

See related study @ *http://www.baq2008.org/stream2-dillon*

*Indonesia:* Air quality station to be launched in November.
http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/en/newsview.aspx?idwil=0&id=12798

See related news @
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/20/rp-17-billion-new-airquality-monitoring-stations.html
http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/en/newsview.aspx?idwil=0&id=12746

*Lao PDR:* Brakes applied to Lao student motorbike riding
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20091023-175384.html

*Malaysia:* Pushing the need for better public transport
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/10/26/central/4959271&sec=central

*Philippines: *Cebu City officials prioritize BRT study before LRT bid *
*
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20091019-230865/Cebu-City-officials-prioritize-BRT-study-before-LRT-bid
*

*Related News @
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=515274&publicationSubCategoryId=107
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=515586&publicationSubCategoryId=107

*Republic of Korea: *Seoul air quality reaches OECD levels
http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/news_view.php?idx=6960

*Singapore:* Car usage on the rise
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_446950.html

See related news @
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20091027-176146.html
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1013808/1/.html<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1013808/1/.html>
http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/singapore-land-transport-masterplan-to-double-rail-network-by-2020-12439.html

*Sri Lanka: *Sri Lanka launches ad campaign to help reconstruct northern
rail tracks*
**http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Oct1254407501CH.html*

*Thailand:* Private sectors urge gov’t to help promote logistics
http://www.siamdailynews.com/2009/10/26/private-sectors-urge-govt-to-help-promote-logistics/

*Thailand:* Southern line trains resume service
http://www.siamdailynews.com/2009/10/22/southern-line-trains-resume-service/

See related news @
http://www.siamdailynews.com/2009/10/26/srt-locomotives-set-to-go-to-three-southernmost-provinces/
http://www.siamdailynews.com/2009/10/26/railways-to-resume-full-service-in-upper-south-not-three-border-provinces/

* * * *
*INTERESTING FINDS/SEMINARS*

*Transport, Energy and CO2: Moving toward Sustainability - How the world can
achieve deep CO2 reductions in transport by 2050*

The new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Transport, Energy
and CO2: Moving Toward Sustainability, looks at ways to enable growth in
mobility without accelerating climate change. It finds that by shifting more
travel to the most efficient modes, improving vehicle fuel efficiency by up
to 50% using cost-effective, incremental technologies and moving toward
electricity, hydrogen, and advanced biofuels, we can reduce transport CO2
emissions far below current levels by 2050, at lower costs than many assume.
If governments implement strong policies to achieve this scenario, dramatic
reductions in CO2 emissions by 2050 can be achieved.

This publication is one of three new IEA end-use studies, together with
industry and buildings, which look at the role of technologies and policies
in transforming the way energy is used in these sectors

Read more @ http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=752
Changing Course: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Urban Transport

Most Asian cities have grown more congested, more sprawling, and less
livable in recent years; and statistics suggest that this trend will
continue. Rather than mitigate the problems, transport policies have often
exacerbated them. In this book, ADB outlines a new paradigm for sustainable
urban transport that gives Asian cities a workable, step-by-step blueprint
for reversing the trend and moving toward safer, cleaner, more sustainable
cities, and a better quality of urban life.

Read more @ *
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Paradigm-Sustainable-Urban-Transport/*

*Towards Sustainable Production and Use of Resources: Assessing Biofuels*

This report by the Working Group on Biofuels of the International Panel for
Sustainable Resource Management provides an overview of the key problems and
perspectives towards sustainable production and use of biofuels. It is based
on an extensive literature study, taking into account recent major reviews.
The focus is on so-called first generation biofuels while considering
further lines of development.

In the overall context of enhancing resource productivity, options for more
efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass are examined. In
particular "modern biomass use" for energetic purposes, such as biomass used
for (co-)generation of heat and power and liquid biofuels for transport, are
addressed and related to the use of biomass for food and material purposes.
Whereas improving the efficiency of biomass production plays a certain role
towards enhancing sustainability, progress will ultimately depend on a more
efficient use of biotic (and abiotic) resources (including for instance an
increased fuel economy of car fleets), although a full consideration of all
relevant strategies towards the end (e.g. changing diets high in animal
based foods and reducing food losses) is beyond the scope of this report.

Read more @ *http://www.unep.fr/scp/publications/details.asp?id=DTI/1213/PA*

*5th International Conference on Sustainable Transport (ICST)*

The Center for Sustainable Transport of Mexico hosted the 5th International
Conference on Sustainable Transport (ICST) from October 12 to 14 in Mexico
City.  The annual conference brought together policymakers, transport
engineers, reseachers and city officials from Mexico and around the globe
discussing issues on urban mobility and sustainable transport solutions.

This year, the theme of the conference is “Low Carbon, Competitive
Cities”—with the aim to bring the most urgent issues on Climate Change,
Sustainable Transport and Urbanism together for the development of more
mobility-oriented public policies.

Visit http://www.congresotransportesustentable.org/ponencias5/index.php for
conference materials and presentations.
Climate Change: Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error The accounting
now used for assessing compliance with carbon limits in the Kyoto Protocol
and in climate legislation contains a far-reaching but fixable flaw that
will severely undermine greenhouse gas reduction goals (1). It does not
count CO2 emitted from tailpipes and smokestacks when bioenergy is being
used, but it also does not count changes in emissions from land use when
biomass for energy is harvested or grown. This accounting erroneously treats
all bioenergy as carbon neutral regardless of the source of the biomass,
which may cause large differences in net emissions. For example, the
clearing of long-established forests to burn wood or to grow energy crops is
counted as a 100% reduction in energy emissions despite causing large
releases of carbon. Read more @ *
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/326/5952/527*

* * * *
*MARK YOUR CALENDARS*

TRAINING PROGRAMME, 8th Training Programme for Public Transport
Managers ,
16-18 November 2009, Belfast,
http://www.uitp.org/events/2009/8Training/en/index.cfm

Urban Mobility India – 2009, 3-December 2009, New Delhi,
http://www.iutindia.org/urban2009.html

 TRB 89th Annual Meeting, 10 January, 2010, Washington DC
http://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting/default.asp

** * * CONTRIBUTE * * * *

To contribute articles, news items, or event announcements for the next
issue, send an email with the complete details and URL source to
suma-news-owner at googlegroups.com with subject "FOR SUMA NEWS".  Past issues
can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/suma-news

** * * ABOUT SUMA * * * *

The Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia (SUMA) program is supported by the
Asian Development Bank through a grant from Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency. SUMA is implemented by the Clean Air
Initiative for Asian Cities Center (www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia), in
partnership with EMBARQ - the World Resources Institute Center for
Sustainable Transport (http://embarq.wri.org), GTZ Sustainable Urban
Transport Project ( www.sutp.org), Interface for Cycling Expertise (
www.cycling.nl), Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (
www.itdp.org), and United Nations Center for Regional Development (
www.uncrd.or.jp/est)