STRATEGIC THEME A (SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT SYSTEM) MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF THE ROAD SYSTEM ON CLIMATE CHANGE

摘要

While climate change policy within the United States continues to evolve, the US and StateDepartments of Transportation, among others, are already findings ways to reducegreenhouse gases (GHGs). Multiple initiatives are being undertaken in transportation,energy, and other sectors of the economy.In July 2009, at the G8 Summit in Aquila, Italy, President Obama and the leaders ofCanada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom signaled theiragreement to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. Under the Copenhagen Accord, theUnited States submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changeits intention to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 17% by the year 2020i. Accordingto the US submission on 28 January 2010, this goal is subject to ratification by the USCongress, the body responsible for making US law.While greenhouse gas reduction is still pending in the US Congress, the President issuedExecutive Order 13514ii which directs agencies of the Executive Branch of the USgovernment, including the Department of Transportation, to reduce its own greenhouseemissions. The overall target for the US government is a 28% reduction by 2020.Individual US States have the legislative ability to set their own approaches on greenhousegas mitigation and adaptation. By November 2009, 30 States had developed climateaction plans and 24 of these had set greenhouse gas reduction targets. Another three hadplans under development. State plans included analysis years in the 2020 – 2030 timeframe and targeted reductions between 10 and 88 percent of their GHG emissions by thetarget year. One of the more significant of these is the California, “Global WarmingSolutions Act” of 2006iii. This law covers virtually every aspect of the Californian economyand requires that greenhouse gas levels return to what they were in 1990 by 2020, anestimated reduction of 29%.In the 30 State plans, more than 300 transportation strategies were proposed to reduceGHGs. The five most popular of these are: low carbon fuel measures, improved publictransport and alternatives to driving, new vehicle fuel efficiency standards (based on theCalifornia model), and incentives to purchase lower emitting vehicles. Some states haveengaged in regional cooperative approaches. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,instituted by States in the Northeastern portion of the US, and the Western ClimateInitiative among the western States are two examples. Both these groups haveestablished programs to implement cap-and-trade efforts to reduce emissions.Legislation has been introduced in the Congress to create a comprehensive US approachto greenhouse gas mitigation. The American Power Act was proposed by Senators Kerryand Lieberman on May 12, 2010, and action on the bill is pending in the US Senate as ofthis report’s writing. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, has alreadybeen passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009, which would establish acap-and-trade program nationally. Providing that the Senate passes the American PowerAct, the two bills will be combined and their differences reconciled. Senate action isexpected later in 2010.