Transport emissions in Beijing: A scenario planning approach

This paper explores and analyses how to reduce smog-related air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions generated by passenger transport systems in Beijing. In-depth surveys with experts and practitioners in China are used to examine the current business-as-usual projection for emissions in Beijing, the drivers and trends affecting current projections, and to develop alternative scenarios that might help reduce projected emissions significantly. These are based around different variants of population and migration growth and environmental stewardship. Current levels of smog caused by transport emissions are much higher in Beijing than internationally accepted safety standards, partly because of high levels of motorised traffic. Carbon dioxide emissions always tend to be overlooked because economic growth is prioritised. The sustainable model represents one of the best models for Beijing to follow; however, Beijing faces major challenges in becoming more environmentally sustainable over the next few years, mainly due to population growth and increased migration, even if there is powerful top-down government environmental stewardship. The aspiration to reduce smog-related air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions in Beijing by implementing sustainable transport mitigation measures seems very ambitious; however, it is perhaps in this context that the real innovations in transport planning will emerge

Guiding principles for future developments in transport

Transport policy in the UK has been the focus of much deliberation and reformulation in recent years. While a ten year £180 billion spending plan is now in place this dies not, nor should it, preclude the ongoing debate over transport's future and the principles with which it should be shaped. This paper presents a set of such principles which has been produced by the Transport Visions Network. The Network is a virtual community of some 250 young professionals that is exploring the future of transport in the twenty-first century. Having taken a long-term view in its deliberations, the Network has conceived twelve principles relating to the topics of: accessibility; mobility; costs; environment; trip type; health and safety; electronic communication; land use; reliability; social participation; stakeholders; and information