Transport and Climate Policy in the Developing World – The Region that Matters Most

Abstract

Sustained economic growth in emerging economies in Asia and other parts of the developing world is resulting in a rapid increase of the number of motorized vehicles, although overall motorization levels are still well below those of Japan, Europe and the United States. Motorized vehicles in developing countries, both for passenger and freight transport, will contribute the lion share of the projected global increase in greenhouse gases from transport in the years to come. Rapid motorization is also associated with worsening air pollution, congestion and increased road accidents. Transport policy in developing countries generally is still focused on ‘predict and provide’ which stimulates the expansion of transport infrastructure to cater for increased numbers of vehicles. This is increasingly resulting in an unsustainable growth trajectory for the transport sector. There are however countries and cities which are taking measures, sometimes aided by external assistance, which if replicated widely and scaled up to sector wide policies could have a meaningful impact on lowering future greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Future policies on transport and climate change in developing countries will have to be comprehensive, coordinated and integrated. Policies will need to combine restraining the growth in vehicles and the demand for transport by providing alternatives to individualized motorized transport through for example better public transport. The emphasis in transport policy needs to be on avoiding future emission through smart land use and transport planning, preventing a shift away from more sustainable modes of transport to private motorized vehicles and improvements in vehicle engine and fuel technologies.