climate win win: sustainable transportation

From http://www.vtpi.org/

Here is good news for everyone seeking smart ways to reduce climate change. "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, 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 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 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. 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 )