The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) points out that current commitments are “insufficient” to promote progress in the decarbonization process of the transport sector. Specifically, he has pointed out that initiatives such as efficient road pricing, road congestion charges, restrictions on entrances to cities and investments in sustainable modes of transport are some of the options to promote this transition.
The International Transport Forum (ITF) in Paris, and the “high ambition” one, with faster deadlines.
He argues, for example, that pesos can promote efficiency and promote the use of trains. He also stresses that measures such as congestion charging will also help reduce road transport. At the same time, he points out the possible positive effects of establishing incentives and introducing restrictions on access to cities for high-emission vehicles.
It calls for more decisiveness in policies, especially to incentivize cleaner vehicles and public transport, as well as the transition to more sustainable fuels for long-haul air and sea travel, since the latter scams “will not decarbonize from the overnight.”
It understands that the decarbonization of urban transport is easier if public transport and non-motorized modes (walking and cycling, among others) are adequately incentivized and package collection points are introduced that would limit delivery movements in cities. With more decisive policies, the share of private motorized vehicles in urban areas will reduce from 49% in 2019 to 36% in 2050.
Sustainable and economical fuels for aviation
Outside urban areas, rail achieves a greater modal share, although around 50% of regional trips will continue to be made by car in 2050, even with ambitious policies. In the case of road and rail transport, the report highlights that low and zero carbon technologies require large-scale deployment.
In the maritime and aviation sectors, the development of sustainable fuels and sufficient quantities will be crucial for long-term decarbonization, he explains. International and intercity travel relies on carbon-intensive modes of transportation. Aviation alone accounts for almost half (47%) of international and intercity passenger kilometers.
This segment is especially difficult to decarbonize, due to the high cost of reducing emissions and because the pace of technological improvements is slow, so to make it more sustainable without reducing travel it will be necessary to cut the carbon intensity of travel. . . In this area, public policies must ensure that low- or zero-carbon technologies and fuels are scaled up to be cost-competitive.
“Some countries may have the expectation that short-distance regional and inter-city movements and international travel will shift towards rail,” says the ITF, which urges pursuing this objective “wherever feasible.” However, such policies will have little impact on long-distance travel, as few long-haul air travel can be effectively replaced by rail. The option in this case is the transition to vehicles and fuels with lower emissions.
Without harming the lowest incomes
By 2050, passenger demand will increase by 79% and freight demand will double in the current scenario, while in the most ambitious hypothesis the equivalent increases will be 65% and 59%, derived from the growth of the economy and population. . in . Distortions in energy markets and price tensions complicate efforts to decarbonize transportation, according to the report’s writers, who note that, although there has been progress, emissions will not decrease quickly enough in the coming years to meet the targets. climate objectives.
Therefore, achieving decarbonization of the transport sector will require greater political ambition, international cooperation and more ambitious targets, but incentives for the use of zero-emission vehicles must not disadvantage lower-income citizens. To maximize emissions savings, policies must prioritize alternative fuels and deploy public charging infrastructure, as well as use carbon pricing that improves the commercial viability of alternative fuels.
The ITF believes that transport policies should not be driven by demand but by a vision that supports the shift towards modes with higher load factors, an approach that could save governments around the world $4 trillion (3 .7 billion euros) in maintenance and investment in roads.
Decarbonization requires significant investment, among which the OECD cites the network of charging points for the electrification of fleets. In the “high ambition” scenario, this network will require additional investments equivalent to 0.4% of global gross domestic product. Carbon pricing can encourage the displacement of more carbon-intensive fleets and make low-carbon fuels more cost-competitive.
