Chapter 1
Transport, Mobility, Emissions, and Development
The transport sector is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and unless there is a shift to low-carbon transport, technology that emits less GHG, and reduced transport use, it will remain so (Parry 2007). Whether it can reach emission targets depends on technical opportunities, user behavior, and infrastructure investment. Continuing business as usual in the face of global climate change could result in higher costs, less mobility, less transport support for development, and greater disruption not only of transport services but also of production reliant on these services. So far, policies have failed to recognize the centrality of transport’s role in global climate change: Joint Implementation initiatives do not include a single transport project; the Clean Development Mechanism has only three transport projects out of 2,587; and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has only 30 transport projects out of 2,533. One reason for the lack of new transport projects is their high cost. However, accounting for synergies between related efforts in the sector to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and dependence on fuel greatly increases the cost-effectiveness of reducing transport emissions.
The Relationship between Mobility and Development Historically, affordable transport has driven development, with dramatic changes in transport kicking off rapid economic development (World Bank 2009b). Access and mobility make it possible to share facilities, goods and services, and knowledge, thus increasing productivity (box 1.1). • Development depends on infrastructure—marketplaces, schools, hospitals, and public administration offices, for instance—to provide basic services, but infrastructure requires substantial fixed investment. A reliable and affordable transport system increases the number of users and thus reduces fixed costs. Turning the Right Corner • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-9835-7
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