Localizing and monitoring climate neutrality through the sustainable development goals (SDGS) framework: the case of Madrid

This paper builds on research conducted and developed in the framework of the Joint Research Centre’s URBAN2030 and URBAN2030-II project. The URBAN2030-II Project aims at fostering the achievement of SDGs in European cities and regions. It focuses on providing methodological support and inspiration for the design and implementation of SDG voluntary local reviews. It builds on the knowledge and experience gained in the URBAN2030 project (2018–2020) developed with the support of the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy.[Abstract:] Madrid’s Roadmap to Climate Neutrality by 2050 is the city’s strategy to attain a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and decarbonisation in 2050. This paper analyses the Roadmap to extract a concept of neutrality, as defined from the perspective of a local or regional government (LRG). It then runs a semantic comparison between the Roadmap’s policy lines and indicators and the metrics used in a sample of other LRGs voluntary local reviews on the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It assesses the extent to which the roadmap’s policy priorities and goals fit with the idea of climate neutrality and decarbonisation that other LRGs are monitoring. The paper also links the Roadmap with the SDGs, studying to what extent certain goals resonate with the climate neutrality dimension monitored therein and the other reviews in the sample. The paper suggests that there is still significant diversity in the way LRGs approach climate neutrality, although carbon emissions and sustainable transport remain common priorities. A large majority of indicators monitoring climate neutrality still refer to key climate-related SDGs, such as SDG 7, 11, 12, and 13, even though there is growing evidence that LRGs are diversifying the concept of decarbonisation policy with which they are working

A review on climate change adaptation policies for the transportation sector

Climate change related disasters and extreme weather events are expected to significantly increase the risk of damages on networks, systems and assets. In view of these anticipated adverse effects, growing attention is placed on adaptation measures, in the form of preventive actions aiming to minimize induced hazards’ negative impacts and to enhance the cross-sectorial resilience. The transportation sector is no stranger to this regime. Within this paper, a detailed desktop, literature and case-study review approach is adopted in order to identify transport-related adaptation measures and actions that are taken at a global and European level. Findings from national and international activities, along with relevant policies and strategies stemming from relevant organizations (IPCC, Bridging the Gap, etc.) are reviewed in terms of their hitherto and expected contribution in efficiently addressing climate change. In addition, proposed actions are clustered in terms of content (technical measures, ICT, legislative, etc.). In this way, the transferability and applicability of case-specific experiences throughout the world are highlighted through the consolidation of a common knowledge base regarding adaptation measures in the transportation sector. Findings are formulated in the form of an adaptation toolbox that can provide the basis for an improved decision making approach for different end-user for addressing climate change

A review on climate change adaptation policies for the transportation sector

Climate change related disasters and extreme weather events are expected to significantly increase the risk of damages on networks, systems and assets. In view of these anticipated adverse effects, growing attention is placed on adaptation measures, in the form of preventive actions aiming to minimize induced hazards’ negative impacts and to enhance the cross-sectorial resilience. The transportation sector is no stranger to this regime. Within this paper, a detailed desktop, literature and case-study review approach is adopted in order to identify transport-related adaptation measures and actions that are taken at a global and European level. Findings from national and international activities, along with relevant policies and strategies stemming from relevant organizations (IPCC, Bridging the Gap, etc.) are reviewed in terms of their hitherto and expected contribution in efficiently addressing climate change. In addition, proposed actions are clustered in terms of content (technical measures, ICT, legislative, etc.). In this way, the transferability and applicability of case-specific experiences throughout the world are highlighted through the consolidation of a common knowledge base regarding adaptation measures in the transportation sector. Findings are formulated in the form of an adaptation toolbox that can provide the basis for an improved decision making approach for different end-user for addressing climate change

Vulnerability of transport infrastructure to extreme weather events in small rural catchments

Across the Mediterranean region, extreme weather events (EWE), such as high-intensity storms causing flooding in small river basins, are one of the most common types of hydrometeorological hazards. Flooding has been associated with severe effects on road networks and a significant number of vehicle-related fatalities, raising concerns regarding the performance of transportation infrastructure during EWEs. Given the expected increase in frequency of such events within the context of climate change, an assessment of its vulnerability is particularly crucial. The work presented herein evaluates the performance of transportation infrastructure during high-intensity storms. This research focuses on small rural catchments, examining the impact of five extreme storm events in five rural basins in Greece. Post-flood surveys were conducted, to record the impact of inundation on each infrastructure element in the five catchments. Overall, findings showed that road infrastructure, especially river crossings, performed poorly, restricting access to large areas during and after the events, affecting the safety of commuters and sustaining extensive damages. On average, it was found that 73% of the river crossings and 11.5% of the total length of the road network were inundated or damaged, while a total of 12 individuals died during the events. The results revealed that the impact of flooding in the transportation infrastructure of small rural basins was severe and a threat to human life. The findings of this study indicate that authorities should consider taking measures during EWEs, reexamine the safety features of the relevant infrastructure and assess the risk related to its failure

Monitoring SDG localisation: an evidence-based approach to standardised monitoring frameworks

[Abstract:] This article studies closeness between indicators that local governments use to monitor Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation in their Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and those included in the standardised set of indicators of the European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews. To do so, it develops an index of ‘indicator proximity’ through a qualitative semantic comparison between 2354 indicators used in a sample of 29 VLRs and the 72 indicators included in the Handbook’s standardised set. The index includes absolute and relative scores, taking into consideration size, comprehensiveness and diversity of the indicator sets included in the sample, as well as the methodological features of the Handbook’s set. The index allows to identify the VLRs with higher or lower proximity to the indicators in the standardised set and the SDGs that elicit a higher or lower degree of closeness between standard metrics and indicators selected or defined by local governments. The output shows that VLRs and the Handbook have an overall significant degree of proximity; that variables such as local government type or size or the size of VLR indicator sets do not provide additional explanation for proximity; and that SDGs that can be monitored with locally accessible and affordable data elicit higher indicator proximity

Στατικό μοντέλο καταμερισμού κυκλοφορίας και Δείκτες Αστικής Κινητικότητας για την πόλη της Θεσσαλονίκης

This paper aims to present the basic methodology and results of updated indicators quantifying urban mobility for the city of Thessaloniki. The indicators relating to the supply and demand data are either research results or results of the static traffic model developed for Thessaloniki. Both the methodology and the results were the basis for developing of strategic scenarios for the sustainable management of urban mobility for the region of Thessaloniki

Μακροσκοπικά Θεμελιώδη Διαγράμματα: Ευρήματα μέσω Προσομοίωσης για το Οδικό Δίκτυο της Θεσσαλονίκης

Within the framework of this paper, the existence of a Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) for the city of Thessaloniki is discussed, obtained through a traffic simulation software. Initial findings show that there is a well-defined MFD, which is a property of a network, as it is not influenced by changes in travel demand. The MFD can be used as tool for managing traffic at real-time and for improving accessibility in an area, through pricing strategies and entrance points control based on the accumulation of vehicles

Μακροσκοπικά Θεμελιώδη Διαγράμματα: Ευρήματα μέσω Προσομοίωσης για το Οδικό Δίκτυο της Θεσσαλονίκης

Within the framework of this paper, the existence of a Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) for the city of Thessaloniki is discussed, obtained through a traffic simulation software. Initial findings show that there is a well-defined MFD, which is a property of a network, as it is not influenced by changes in travel demand. The MFD can be used as tool for managing traffic at real-time and for improving accessibility in an area, through pricing strategies and entrance points control based on the accumulation of vehicles