<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="black"> GTZ - Sustainable Urban Transport Project Newsletter **January - March 2009** This is the text version of the newsletter. A PDF of the same can be downloaded from <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/Jan-Mar-09.pdf">http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/Jan-Mar-09.pdf</a> ************************ In This Edition 1. Joint initiative on transport and climate change 2. New publications 3. News 4. Sustainable transport related events 5. How can Sustainable Urban Transport contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions 6. Further reading *For Your Information: *All the documents mentioned in this newsletter are available for download at no charge from the SUTP website (<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org">http://www.sutp.org</a>) any queries can be sent to <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sutp@sutp.org">sutp@sutp.org</a>. ------------------------- 1. Joint Initiative on Transport and Climate Change Transport is recognised as a key contributing factor to GHG emissions. However, compared to other issues like deforestation or energy, transport plays a minor role under the current regime and in the negotiations of the Post-Kyoto process. There is recognition that transport is a significant part of the solution and many transport related organisations are discussing the links between transport and climate change. One of the main barriers to achieving an effective link between transport and climate change, is a clear understanding of the different negotiation streams and how to develop a clear targeted strategy to integrate transport into the current negotiations. The Conference of Parties (COP) 2009 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, between December 7 and December 18, 2009. GTZ, TRL, Veolia Transport and UITP are working to facilitate the process in 2009 to improve the link between the transport sector and the climate change negotiations. More information on: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/">http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/</a> Bibliography on transport and climate change: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/tc_Bibliography.html">http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/tc_Bibliography.html</a> Urban Transport and Climate Change Action Plans: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/downloads/Transport&ClimateChangeActionPlans_SE20032009.pdf">http://www.sutp.org/bridging_the_gap/downloads/Transport&ClimateChangeActionPlans_SE20032009.pdf</a> ------------------------- 2. New Publications GTZ Compilation of Urban Transport Policy And Planning Documents For the convenience of its visitors and members, GTZ has compiled a list of urban mobility documents from cities across all the continents. The document includes links to various transport white papers, policy documents from city and national governments and also from multilateral organisations. Download: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1386&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1386&Itemid=1</a> GTZ International Fuel Prices - Data Preview Report GTZ released a data preview report of the "GTZ International Fuel Prices" publication. This document provides an overview of retail prices of gasoline and diesel in more than 170 countries based on our survey in mid-November 2008. For more information on the fuel prices initiative please visit <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gtz.de/fuelprices">http://www.gtz.de/fuelprices</a> Download: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1369&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1369&Itemid=1</a> Module 3c: Bus Regulation and Planning Now In Korean The GTZ sourcebook module on "Bus Regulation and Planning" authored by Mr. Richard Meakin has been translated into Korean. The document was translated by the Kongju National University, under the guidance of Prof. Jin Young Park. Download: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1360&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1360&Itemid=1</a> ------------------------- 3. News January 2009 New York, First U.S. City to Win the Sustainable Urban Transport Award New York City has won the 2009 Sustainable Transport Award over stiff competition from Beijing, Istanbul, Mexico City and Milan, which are receiving honourable mentions. The award presentation for the winner and four honourable mention cities took place at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC as part of the Transportation Research Board Annual Conference, which attracted 10,000 transportation professionals from around the world. Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1</a> Ministerial Declaration On Global Environment And Energy In Transport Signed Transport ministers and representatives from 20 countries* including the European commission signed the "Ministerial declaration on Global Environment and Energy in Transport" on the 16th January 2009, in Tokyo, Japan. Through the declaration the signatories recognise the various issues related to transport and identify possible means for minimising the negative impacts. Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1380&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1380&Itemid=1</a> Signing Of GEF-LAC Grant Agreement for The Regional Sustainable Transport Project And Air Quality Program The GEF-LAC Grant Agreement between the Clean Air Institute and the World Bank for the implementation of the Regional Sustainable Transport Project and Air Quality Program has been signed in Washington on January 15, 2009. GTZ-SUTP, as one of the implementing partners, attended the meeting. GTZ has been providing full assistance in the development of this proposal, specifically on the component of capacity building. Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1377&Itemid=1">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1377&Itemid=1</a> --- February 2009 GTZ-SUTP Organised a Training Course on Non-Motorised Transport In Seoul As a pre-event to the 4th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum, GTZ-SUTP organised a training course on "Non-Motorised Transport in Urban Areas, in Seoul, S. Korea. The event was organised on 23rd February 2009 in cooperation with Interface for Cycling Expertise (I-Ce, Netherlands), United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) and Ministry of Land Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM), Korea. Mr. Jeroen Buis, I-Ce was the lead trainer while Mr. Manfred Breithaupt, GTZ's Senior Transport Advisor and SUTP Project Director, was a co-trainer. Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1412&Itemid=40〈=uk">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1412&Itemid=40〈=uk</a> 4th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum In Seoul, Korea The Ministry of Land Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Government of Korea, the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), and the Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Japan jointly organised the Fourth Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum from 24 to 26 February 2009 in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Manfred Breithaupt, GTZ Senior Transport Advisor and Project Director of SUTP, participated in the event as an International Expert. Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1378&Itemid=40">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1378&Itemid=40</a> ------------------------- 4. Sustainable Transport Related Events Title: XV CLAPTU Location: Buenos Aires, AG Date: 31.03.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=314">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=314</a> Title: Future Urban Transport Location: Gotenburg, SE Date: 19.04.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=252">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=252</a> Title: Velo-city 2009 Location: Brussels, BE Date: 12.05.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=305">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=305</a> Title: 58th World Congress on Mobility Location: Vienna, AT Date: 07.06.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=208">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=208</a> Title: ICLEI World Congress Location: Edmonton, CA Date: 14.06.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=269">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=269</a> Title: CPN China Week 2009 Location: Beijing/Chengdu, CN Date: 15.06.2009 Link: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=315">http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=315</a> ------------------------- 5. How Can Sustainable Urban Transport Contribute To The Reduction Of GHG Emissions * this article is based on the module by GTZ titled "Transport and Climate Change" written by Mr. Holger Dalkmann, TRL and Charlotte Brannigan Climate Change is currently a major challenge for most nations. Human activities such as excessive burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and waste generation exacerbate this situation. The effects of these actions can be seen in various forms around the globe. Melting of ice caps, raising sea levels, unpredictable rainfall patterns, heat waves are just a few to name. It has been found that future effects will be more frequent in developing countries. Most of these countries rapidly deplete their natural resources and are increasingly imitating the consumptive attitude of the west. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector also play an important role in the climate change issue. Carbon dioxide (CO2), a GHG, emissions from the transport sector has risen by the fastest rate in the past three decades. From 1990 to 2004, CO2 emissions from the transport sector alone rose by 36.5%. In developing countries esp. China, India, and other Asian countries the change in lifestyles is driving people to increased automobile usage. This has increased the demand for fossil fuels and automobile oriented infrastructure. Tackling the problem Transport is intertwined in nature with social and economic conditions of a city, and is an area that is very difficult to penetrate and solve its emissions problem in isolation. Bypassing old technologies and patterns and fostering innovative methods is the fastest way for developing countries to turn over a new leaf. Three fundamental strategies to reduce GHG's from transport are: * Avoid (travel by motorised means) * Shift (to cleaner and environmentally friendly modes) and * Improve (the efficiency of existing transport systems and technology) In order to achieve the above-mentioned strategies there are instruments available that fall in the following categories and effectively reduce the greenhouse gases if properly implemented. a. Planning Instruments: Proper planning can reduce the need to travel and increase accessibility. It can also enable the implementation of new infrastructure such as improved public transit, or newer mass transit options, non-motorised lanes and encourage walking. E.g.: Integrated land use planning, high density development. b. Regulatory Instruments: Proper implementation of these instruments would control the existing vehicular population and can avoid the use of old vehicles. These instruments also bring a sense of standard among the automobile users. E.g.: Standardising the vehicles, Mandatory air pollution tests c.Fiscal and Economic Instruments: These fiscal and economic instruments can discourage the use of unnecessary vehicle trips and when properly implemented will reduce equity problems in transport users. These instruments could also provide a financial source, for the city government, that could be later used for public transport improvement. E.g.: Road pricing, congestion charging, parking pricing, fuel pricing. d. Information Instruments: These set of instruments provide the stakeholders with the available options for them in their city to travel. This will enable the citizens to increase their awareness and hence trigger a shift from their cars. E.g.: Public awareness campaigns, Travelsmart, public feedback on achievements e. Technological Instruments: These instruments foster the innovative achievements in technology related to transport. Shifting to cleaner fuels, reducing end-of-pipe emissions and eco-driving fall under this category. In unavoidable cases, using these instruments will enable environmentally safe travelling by motorised transport to a certain extent. E.g.: Low friction lubricants, gear shift indicators, Biodiesel, Ethanol, hybrid cars The majority of the instruments cited above can be implemented with medium-to-low costs, moreover some of the instruments can show immediate fiscal benefits for the city government while some provide intangible benefits in the long run such as reduced air pollution and congestion, increased liveability. GTZ-SUTP's Role In Mitigating Climate Change Mitigating transport problems and hence addressing the climate change issue from the transport sector has been one of the major goals for GTZ-SUTP. As steps to achieve the goals, GTZ-SUTP has developed a series of modules collectively called "Sourcebook" which describes current transport issues. Recently, there have been new modules focussing directly on CDM (titled Module 5d: The CDM in the Transport Sector) and Climate Change (titled 5e: Transport and Climate Change). These modules are available for free download from the SUTP website <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org">http://www.sutp.org</a> . GTZ-SUTP provides technical assistance on various sustainable transport topics including BRT planning, Non-motorised transportation, Public awareness, Transport Demand Management, and sustainable funding. To get more information on our activities please visit <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org">http://www.sutp.org</a> or <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.cn">http://www.sutp.cn</a> (for users in China) or send an email to sutp[at]sutp.org. ------------------------- 6. Further Reading * Assessing the benefits of public transport <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.uitp.org/mos/focus/FPBenefits-en.pdf">http://www.uitp.org/mos/focus/FPBenefits-en.pdf</a> * Integrating public transport & urban planning: a virtuous circle <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.uitp.org/mos/focus/FPurbanplanning-en.pdf">http://www.uitp.org/mos/focus/FPurbanplanning-en.pdf</a> * Urban Transport Leaders Summit 2008 Proceedings <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ltaacademy.gov.sg/world_urban1.htm">http://www.ltaacademy.gov.sg/world_urban1.htm</a> * "50 by 50" - Making Cars 50% More Fuel Efficient by 2050 <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.fiafoundation.org/50by50/Documents/50BY50_report.pdf">http://www.fiafoundation.org/50by50/Documents/50BY50_report.pdf</a> * The Fleet Forum Fleet Safety Guide <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.fleetforum.org/">http://www.fleetforum.org/</a> * Urban Bus Specifications India <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://urbanindia.nic.in/moud/programme/ut/urbanbus_spec.pdf">http://urbanindia.nic.in/moud/programme/ut/urbanbus_spec.pdf</a> * UNEP, March 2009: Global Green New Deal – A Policy Brief <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.unep.org/pdf/A_Global_Green_New_Deal_Policy_Brief.pdf">http://www.unep.org/pdf/A_Global_Green_New_Deal_Policy_Brief.pdf</a> Note: Any further queries regarding this document can be addressed to sutp[at]sutp.org. All the documents mentioned here are available for download from the SUTP website. <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org">http://www.sutp.org</a> (This is the text version of the newsletter. A PDF of the same can be downloaded from the <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/Jan-Mar-09.pdf">http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/Jan-Mar-09.pdf</a> ) ********************** </body> </html>