Transport
Over the course of the next decade, the transport sector is expected to a major force behind the growing world demand for energy, the largest source of urban air pollution alongside industry, and a profuse manufacturer of the greenhouse gasses that lead to climate change. Transport is the largest end-use of energy in developed countries, and the fastest growing energy-dependent sector in most developing countries.
Since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, several transport policies have been adopted to mitigate harmful emissions through the use of clean fuels, vehicle emission standards, and energy efficiency. DESA is working with experts in the automotive, oil, and technology sectors to help developing countries phase out lead and reduce sulphur content in fuels, promote more stringent emission standards such as EURO3 and EURO4, and improve vehicle inspection and maintenance programmes.
DESA also publishes information on good practices for wider use by transport officials. For instance, vehicle fleets in cities around the world are converting to compressed natural gas, ethanol is being blended with gasoline, and biodiesel is offered as a fuel alternative in many countries. Some cities are phasing out two-stroke engines, which are highly polluting, while others are engaging in integrated urban road planning, and construction of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly infrastructure to reduce motorized transport and the greenhouse gasses that go with it.
Dialogue, research, analysis
- April 2006
- Trends in sustainable development: energy for sustainable development, industrial development, atmosphere/air pollution, and climate change
- 2002
- Air Pollution from Ground Transportation
- March 2001
- Report of the Secretary-General on energy and transport
Cases studies 2006
Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE)
- Summary:
- The PRE programme took advantage of the Kyoto Protocol's joint implementation mechanism, encouraging the development of projects by providing a share of New Zealand's Kyoto emissions units, which ... Learn more
Lower speeds at pollution hotspots
- Summary:
- One measure which is regarded in the Netherlands as a good practice is setting lower speed limits on motorways in urban areas where the air quality standards are not being met. By reducing the limi... Learn more
Heavy Vehicle Fee
- Summary:
- The Heavy Vehicle Fee (HVF) is levied on heavy-duty vehicles (over 3.5 tones) in order to partially internal-ize the external costs of freight transport, to encour-age the switch of the transfer of go... Learn more
Youth Bike to Raise Awareness in Europe
- Summary:
- For the past 15 years, European Youth for Action has organized an annual bike tour that runs for two months, covers 6,000 kilometres, and reaches out to thousands of individuals to talk about air poll... Learn more
The European Union Biofuels Directive
- Summary:
- The EU biofuels directive, adopted in 2003, promotes the use of a minimum percentage of biofuels to be marketed and distributed in order to reduce import dependency and greenhouse gas emissions. Biodi... Learn more
The Clean Air Initiative
- Summary:
- The Clean Air Initiative (CAI) advances innovative ways to improve air quality in cities by sharing knowledge and experiences and bringing together cross-cutting expertise in urban development, transp... Learn more
Energie-Cities
- Summary:
- The Energie-Cities Association includes 136 members from over 21 countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland and Serbia and Montenegro. The members are ma... Learn more
Climate Alliance
- Summary:
- The Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples is Europe's largest thematic network with a membership over 1300 European cities and municipalities in 14 countries. Joinin... Learn more
Heavy-Duty Diesel Retrofit Demonstration Project in Mexico City (Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles
- Summary:
- Particulate emissions can be reduced by as much as 90% if vehicles and fuels are addressed simultaneously. The Mexico City diesel retrofit demonstration project has successfully installed two types o... Learn more
Partnerships
Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), The
- Lead Partner:
- The EOLSS Publishers Ltd. - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), EOLSS Joint Committee
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), the world biggest web-based archive as transdisciplinary knowledge base of sustainable development. It is, in fact, a global partnership among thousands of scholars aimed at creating an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development efforts. Thus, the EOLSS Project is a project in support of all other projects related to sustainab... Learn more
Southern Caucus of NGOs for Sustainable Development Five Multi Regional Partnership and Policy Centers
- Lead Partner:
- Southern Caucus Of NGOs For Sustainable Development
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- THE PARTNERSHIP SHALL: 1. Establish Five Multi Regional Centers to assist in recruitment, mobilization and development of human resources and strengthen Southern Major Group NGO Institutions on Local, National and Regional Levels and increase their Capacity to participate in and contribute to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Locally, Nationally and Regionally. 2 Seek resources... Learn more
