A Sustainability Rating System for Roads in Developing Countries

摘要

Growth, prosperity and economic development for developing countries are dependent upon reliable and safe transportation systems. Road and highway systems provide a critical role in creating and maintaining economic development and a desirable quality of life. Embedding environmentally sustainable principles and best practices into road projects in the developing world has been a challenge for governments and the International Financial Institutions. The problems faced in the developing world have many unique aspects including varying degrees of commitment, limited financial resources and lack of understanding about sustainability concepts and how to address them given the country specific characteristics. The World Bank developed a guidance document to assist Bank project staff and its clients in integrating environmentally sustainable elements into road transportation projects, thus helping to promote green growth. The focus was to identify a range of ideas and options to improve environmental sustainability throughout all phases of the project cycle (system planning, project planning and design, construction and operation and maintenance) using a rating system tool. The approach builds upon five national and international sustainability rating systems and provides an extensive set of environmental road sustainability criteria. The guidance also presents a summary of road transportation environmentally sustainable technology information to stimulate consideration in existing and new road projects. The paper presents a summary of contents and use of the sustainability-based road guidance and provides some case studies, insights and suggestions for moving forward given the initial findings from its use in Latin America.