[sustran] Publication: 1.5º scenario for Transport in Latin America

Carlosfelipe Pardo pardo at despacio.org
Thu Apr 21 21:49:36 JST 2016


WHAT DOES THE 1.5 DEGREE TARGET MEAN FOR LATIN AMERICA?

Full details:
http://despacio.org/en/2016/04/20/what-does-the-1-5-degree-target-mean-for-latin-america/


The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21
<http://www.cop21paris.org/about/cop21>) was held in Paris at the end of
last year. There, delegates set a new climate goal of limiting temperature
increase to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. They agreed upon this
goal because the previous goal of a 2°C increase by 2100 was insufficient
for reducing climate change risks. Vulnerable countries were particularly
concerned about the 2 degree target, including many countries from Latin
America and the Caribbean. Given this new goal, we wanted to analyze its
significance for the transport sector in Latin America, particularly
Colombia and Mexico. We are therefore very excited to present our latest
publication: *The Paris Challenge for transport: Implications of the change
in target at COP 21 for the transport sector, the cases of Colombia and
Mexico. *Click here for *the full document
<http://despacio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Meta-COP-21-formato-despacio-hermoso-20160420-FINAL.pdf>*,
in Spanish with an executive summary in English.
WHAT DOES THE PUBLICATION CONTAIN?

This report aims to answer several questions. First, it examines whether
Latin America has been sufficiently ambitious and accurate in developing
transport policies that significantly reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) in the
sector. It also questions whether these policies are, in fact, reducing
emissions. In addition, it assesses whether the implemented measures in the
sector are being considered within climate change plans or if this linkage
still needs to be developed.

At the same time, this report describes the sectoral implications of the
new target of a 1.5° C temperature increase. The general focus of climate
change action may need to be more ambitious to meet this goal, implying a
major change in the region’s mobility paradigm. From this conclusion, the
report analyzes Latin America’s preparedness and examines whether the
region has taken the necessary steps to reach the 1.5° C goal. In doing so,
it outlines what still needs to be done, specifically in the case of
Colombia and Mexico. Finally, the report provides conclusions and
recommendations on the topic.
WHAT DOES IT CONCLUDE?

The report arrives at four conclusions:

   1. There are a number of transport policies in Latin America,
   particularly in Colombia and Mexico, that are either already reducing
   emissions or have the potential to do so, despite the fact that they are
   not integrated with the emissions reduction Action Plans or national INDCs.
   2. There are also transport policies in the region (particularly in the
   two countries studied here) that do not reduce (and in some cases increase)
   transport emissions. Sectoral estimations for climate change action have
   not considered these adequately.
   3. There has been progress and specific plans from the climate change
   sector to promote sustainable transport use. Although there is mention of
   policies and programs that involve avoiding, reducing and shifting
   (Dalkmann and Braningan, 2007), the vast majority of measures are
   technology-focused and fall into the *improve *Unfortunately, these
   measures alone will not create a significant impact on emissions reductions
   in the sector.
   4. The region should be more ambitious in its policies, programs and
   projects. It should also integrate these better to generate a larger impact
   in the short and medium term.


WHAT CAN BE DONE?

>From these conclusions, we make five key recommendations.

   1. Integrate transport policies more coherently with emission reduction
   policies and ambitions in the transport sector.
   2. Evaluate the relevance of continuing to implement transport policies
   that clearly increase GHG emissions and consider ending or reducing them.
   3. Clearly assess the mitigation potential of all transport policies and
   their potential co-benefits. Analyze barriers and challenges to
   implementation.
   4. Align sectoral policies to avoid discrepancies and decisively
   restrict policies that increase transport sector emissions.
   5. Promote necessary measures through regulation, financing, technical
   consulting and implementation. This will generate a high-impact shift in
   transport policies towards a low-carbon emission scenario.


-- 
Carlosfelipe Pardo | Director Ejecutivo | despacio
pardo at despacio.org
Tel: (+571) 2484420  / Cel (+573) 21 343 3727
despacio.org


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