Low Carbon Transport Quick Wins
Opportunities for Climate and Clean Air Action in Urban Road Transport in Low Income Countries in Africa and Asia
Abstract
The climate emergency together with the COVID- 19 pandemic provide a unique opportunity to make urban transport more resilient, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, achieve liveable cities, secure prosperity and boost living standards. Rapid motorisation in LICs in Asia and Africa is expected to increase their contribution to total global transport GHG emissions, threatening international climate objectives if no action is taken. The transport sector is also a major contributor to fine particle pollution in major cities with toxic outdoor air pollution killing up to 3.4 million people each year worldwide. Death rates have risen as countries shift form low to middle-income countries. Low income countries in Africa and Asia can take a number of short- to medium-term low carbon road transport measures that have the potential for rapid climate and clean air benefits.
This policy note outlines 10 low carbon transport quick wins identified by the DFID HVT Programme that can reduce GHG emissions for both passenger and freight road transport while offering sustainable development benefits (e.g. improved air quality, accessibility, efficiency, safety and energy security). Four recommendations are made to achieve climate and air co-benefits in low income countries: (1) exploit the post-COVID-19 recovery to push forward low carbon transport transformation; (2) target finance for low carbon transport in the post-COVID-19 recovery; (3) raise the level ambition of NDCs by including low carbon quick wins for road transport; and (4) ensure better coordination between transport, energy and environment and planning agencies.
This is an output of the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme
Citation
Haq, G. (2020) Low carbon quick wins: opportunities for climate and clean air action in urban road transport in low income countries in Africa and Asia.
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