LEDSGP/Transportation Toolkit/Key Actions

Transportation Toolkit

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Key Actions for Low-Emission Development in Transportation

Although no single approach or fixed process exists for low emission development strategies (LEDS), the following key actions are necessary steps for implementing LEDS in the transportation sector. Undertaking these actions requires flexibility to adapt to dynamic societal conditions in a way that complements existing climate and development goals in other sectors.

Planners, researchers, and decision-makers should customize this LEDS implementation framework for the specific conditions of their transport sector, choosing from relevant resources to achieve a comprehensive action plan. The key actions described in this framework are intended to guide decision makers rather than prescribe a specific methodology.

Evaluate the System

Assess the current transportation situation in your country or region by researching and evaluating existing plans, policies, practices, strategies and programs related to transport and land use:

• Demand for transport services – geographic population distribution, household incomes correlated with location, private motorized vehicle ownership by type, vehicle miles traveled per capita, non-motorized transport, and travel patterns
• Supply of transport infrastructure and services – types, conditions, cost efficiency, performance, availability, and location of existing systems
• Government institutions with jurisdiction over transport systems – regulatory, policy, and financial authority

Create a Baseline

Track emissions and development improvements by establishing baselines that measure current and projected transport demand, supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use, assuming no low-emission actions are taken.

Assess Opportunities

Utilize a holistic assessment of transportation development opportunities, known as the avoid, shift, improve (ASI) framework, to meet growing transport demand with less environmental impact. This approach widens the focus of transport development beyond conventional technologies to include solutions that consider the policies and behaviors driving the demand for transportation. It can guide economies to avoid the demand for transportation, shift the transport systems to less carbon-intensive modes, and improve transportation infrastructure and policies.

Develop Alternative Scenarios

Establish transport development objectives, then integrate potential transport development opportunities identified through the avoid, shift, improve (ASI) framework into various alternative development scenarios that would achieve those objectives. The alternative scenarios should be compared with the BAU scenario in order to determine potential economic and emissions impact.

Prioritize and Plan

Prioritize alternative development scenarios based on factors such as economic, environmental, and social benefits & costs, technical & institutional capacity & barriers, and obviously GHG emission impacts. Once a particular pathway is prioritized, a specific transportation development plan can be adopted, consisting of implementable policies and systems that would result in optimal impacts such as increased employment, enhanced mobility, improved health/safety, expanded market access, reduced congestion, and avoided emissions.

Implement and Monitor

Implement an action plan to carry out the transportation development plan as the final phase of LEDS implementation. The action plan should define a timetable, roles and responsibilities, financial sources, performance metrics, outreach and partnership activities, and a plan for continuous monitoring and refinement. Proper MRV (monitor/measure, reporting, and verification) mechanisms should be established to ensure desired impact and continued improvement.

Evaluate
System

Create
Baseline

Assess
Opportunities

Develop
Alternatives

Prioritize
& Plan

Implement
& Monitor

Get the Details

Learn more about the key actions in the report on LEDS for transportation.

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