Sustainable Transport Policies
Dr Eimear Cotter
Integrated Transport Unit,
Department of Transport
CO2 emissions from the transport
sector 1990 - 2003
Transport Emissions
• The transport sector is the fastest growing
contributor to national GHG emission levels
• Transport is the third highest contributor to
national GHG emissions
• Road transport accounts for an estimated
93% of emitted CO2
Central role of transport
• Transport is critical to our economic
well-being and quality of life
• Transport sector supports economic
prosperity, regional development and
social inclusion
Key Emission Drivers
• Increased fuel – Increased
consumption commuting
– Significant – Higher throughput at
economic growth airports
– Growing population – Increased freight
movements
– Increasing demand
– People traveling
for housing – urban
more often, in larger
sprawl vehicles
Pressures to address energy and
emissions intensity of transport
• Kyoto Protocol
• National Climate Change Strategy
• EU Green Paper on Energy Efficiency
• Oil peak approach – security of supply
• Rising oil prices – from e.g. rapidly expanding
economies, geopolitical tensions,
interruptions to supply – Hurricane Katrina
The Challenge
• Bringing CO2 under control whilst minimising
negative economic and quality of life impacts
• Cross-sectoral, whole of Government,
approach is required
• There is no one single solution – no ‘silver
bullet’
Achieving emissions reductions
in transport is no easy task
• It is usually recognised that the
transport sector is the most expensive
sector to achieve CO2 reductions
Department of Transport
• The Department
identifies
‘Sustainability’ as
a key objective in
Statement of
Strategy 2005-
2007
Statement of Strategy
• To incorporate the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainability
into the development and delivery of transport
policy
Two key outputs
• Sustainable development considerations
mainstreamed into transport policy
• Targeted policies to reduce the level of
greenhouse gas emissions from transport in a
sustainable way
Sustainability
• Balance of
environmental,
social and economic
considerations will
deliver a modern
transport system
Mainstreaming sustainability
considerations
• Embedding
sustainability
considerations into
transport policy
Mainstreaming sustainability
• Awareness raising initiative
• Incorporate sustainability considerations
into policy development
Aviation Emissions
• The Department of Transport accepts that it is
desirable to reduce the environmental impacts of
aviation
• The Department does not object, in principle, to
bringing aviation into the emissions trading scheme
• An emissions trading system for aviation should not
introduce competitive distortions between air carriers
or reduce access to air services
Policies and measures to
reduce GHGs
• Supply side measures
• Demand side measures
• Technological advances
Supply Side Measures –
Transport 21
Supply side – Transport 21
• Total capital funding is over €34 billion over
the next 10 years
• About €9.4 million per day being invested in
Irish transport for the next ten years
• Major rebalancing of investment in favour of
public transport - about €16 billion of the total
funding
Transport 21
• In Dublin • New commuter services
– Expansion of LUAS in Cork and Galway
– DART extension • Significant investment in
– Two new Metro the national roads
Lines network – leading to an
improved and more
– Bus capacity will be
efficient road
increased infrastructure
Demand side measures
• Get the most out of the network, e.g.
– Expansion of QBC network in cities under
Transport 21
– Transport 21 will support the further
development of Park and Ride facilities,
with a particular focus on rail-based public
transport
Technological advances
• Support EU Voluntary Agreements
between government and industry
– Target to reduce CO2 emissions to
140g/km by 2008/2009
– Considering the reduction of CO2
emissions to 120g/km by 2012
Biofuels and Alternative Fuels
• Support D/CMNR
scheme to promote the
use of biofuels as a
transport fuel in Ireland
• Biofuels have the
potential to significantly
reduce the
environmental impact of
the transport sector
Biofuels Directive
• “In some cities captive fleets are already
operating on pure biofuels and, in some cases,
this has helped to improve air quality in urban
areas. Member States could therefore further
promote the use of biofuels in public transport
modes”
• Looking to countries such France, Sweden and
Austria who use biofuels in public transport fleets
Biofuel and Alternative Fuels
• Engaging with relevant
sectors to explore
– biofuels and other
clean technologies
such as hybrid-
electric vehicles
– ‘eco-driving’ or
energy-efficient
driving behaviour
Fiscal measures to incentivise
a shift to clean vehicles
• Proposed EU Directive to re-structure
passenger car taxation and link to CO 2
emissions
• Average emissions of new passenger
cars could be reduced by 5% on
average by 2008 as a result
• Restructuring of company car tax in the
UK to CO2 basis has made significant
CO2 savings
Cycling and Walking Network
• Almost €30m has been spent on provision of cycling
facilities in the GDA since 1994
• Delivered 220km of cycle lanes for the investment
• Despite this, cycling has continued to fall – although
less so where there has been most investment
• Support will continue for DTO Traffic Management
Grants, which includes provisions for cycling network,
under Transport 21
Longer term
• The integration of spatial development and
transport investment will support more
sustainable travel
• The Department has been involved in
developing the Regional Planning Guidelines
as part of the National Spatial Strategy
• Local Authorities are implementing these
Regional Planning Guidelines
CASP – integration in action
• Example of successful land-use planning
• Early and effective engagement with
stakeholders (including D/Transport)
• Symbiotic relationship between transport and
land use
• Appropriate use of rail, bus and cycle solutions
• Car restraint combined with Park & Ride
Conclusions
• The Department is committed to tackling CO2
emissions from transport
• Transport sector is a difficult sector in which to
achieve emission reductions
• No one ‘silver bullet’ but a range of solutions
need to be addressed
• The Department will be progressing these
items over the coming months
