A Bridging the Gap workshop entitled'climate change and development in the transport sector: what do you need to achieve GHG mitigation from land transport' was held on Tuesday 8th June.The workshop was hosted by GTZ in parallel to the UNFCCC climate change negotiations in Bonn and was attended by almost 80 policy makers, academics and consultants working both within and external to the transport sector.
http://www.transport2012.org/transport-climate-change-news/2010-06-11,btg-ws.htm
http://www.transport2012.org/transport-climate-change-news/2010-06-11,btg-ws.htm
A number of high profile speakers from a range of international organisations based in both developed and developing countries including ADB, IDB, KfW and ECN presented their thoughts regarding what's needed to achieve the large potential for GHG mitigation in the transport sector.The success stories presented indicated that we already have the knowledge required to achieve significant emission reductions in the transport sector.Hilda Martinez from CTS Mexico, for example, detailed projects from Latin America, Asia and Europe that have successfully shifted demand to low carbon modes.Daniel Bongardt from GTZ also detailed numerous policies that, if integrated into a long-term strategy, could lead to significant emission reductions from the sector.He detailed the large number of NAMA submissions referring to actions in the transport sector as evidence that there is an appetite for transport actions.What is now needed is the political will, financial resources and capacity building required to match demand for land transport solutions with support and to ensure widespread implementation, and upscaling, of low carbon transport policies.
Rafael Acevado-Daunas of the IDB talked of the bank's new climate change strategy that incorporates land transport as a main area of intervention.They are also jointly financing knowledge related projects in this area (i.e. NAMA and transport information linked to climate change) with the ADB.The ADB also presented at the workshop with Jamie Leather detailing that sustainable transport is being mainstreamed into the operations of the bank.He also discussed the issue of co-benefits, which will be fundamental in gaining support for transport mitigation actions.
Holger Dalkmann from TRL presented an innovative transport sectoral mechanism concept (REST) that could be used to fund and credit land transport projects. Cornie Huizenga of SLOCaT also talked about mechanisms within the UNFCCC that could be reformed or developed to accommodate the specific needs of the sector. Klaus Gihr of KfW provided a practical insight into some of the mechanisms discussed and discussed how the BRT in Johannesburg is eligible for credits from both the CDM and GEF.A number of participants highlighted the need to look beyond the UNFCCC process, however, to ensure that actions are taken in a timely manner.This is linked largely to the challenge of MRV, an issue that Michael Replogle of ITDP and Jiang Kejun of NDRC both discussed.
The presentations from the workshop can all be downloaded from the links below and a summary of the workshop will follow in the next few days.
- Welcome presentation
- Caroline Edant - Achievements of the "Bridging the gap" initiative
- Hilda MartÃnez Salgado - Transport systems and climate change in developing countries
- Daniel Bongardt - Mitigation Potentials and Technology
Needs of Developing Countries - Rafael M. Acevedo-Daunas - Sustainable Transport at the IDB
- James Leather - ADB Sustainable Transport Initiative
- Holger Dalkmann - The Need for REST: Reducing Emissions through Sustainable Transport
- Klaus Gihr - Bus Rapid Transport in Johannesburg
- Stefan Bakker and Cornie Huizenga - Post-2012 mechanisms for transport
- Michael Replogle - The Measurement, Reporting, Verification Challenge for the Transportation Sector
- Jiang Kejun - Transport in China
- Heather Allen - Conclusions
