The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released a report, titled “CO2 emissions performance of car manufacturers in 2011,” which shows that most cars manufactured in Europe have achieved 2012 emission reduction standards, with around 3.3% greater efficiency than new cars registered the previous year. the efficiency gains are largely due to a growing proportion of diesel vehicles, and a decrease in average engine and vehicle size, rather than through the use of alternative fuels.
Last week at the COP 18 in Doha nine new so called lighthouse projects were revealed in an award ceremony attended by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. We are proud that two SLoCaT members: ITDP and CEPT Ahmedabad were among the winners. The inclusion of the Guangzhou and Ahmedabad BRTs shows how BRT is coming of age.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting a five-year project to replace 100,000 gasoline-burning tricycles with energy efficient electric tricycles, or E-Trikes, in Metro Manilla and urban centers in the Philippines. The E-Trike project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 260,0000 tons annually and contribute to improved air quality. The project will also avoid US$100 million in fuel import costs, which will reduce dependency on foreign oil imports and increase driver income.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Implementing Agreement on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy) newsletter notes that while bioenergy can contribute to Austria’s renewable energy targets, new technologies for transport fuels will need to be suported, while also discussing activities at the November Executive Committee meeting and Task 40 on Sustainable International Bioenergy Trade.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched the Green Meetings Calculator to help UN organizations reduce carbon emissions associated with air travel to meetings. The application identifies an optimal meeting location based on calculated carbon emissions, as well as other parameters, and identifies all possible city venues accessible by a direct or one-stop connecting flight.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNEP Risø Centre (URC) December’s newsletter includes stories on the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) project and electrification in Africa, including efforts within the Sustainable Energy For All Initiative (SE4ALL). The newsletter also features several stories on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), including capacity building projects in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region.
The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank report, which is based on analyses in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland and South Africa, finds that many of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures pay themselves back, while ambitious global action to reduce technology costs, scale up private sector financing, and provide climate financing is still required.
Last week on the 19th of November 2012, the Missions of the Kingdoms of Netherlands and Thailand in cooperation with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) hosted a meeting attended by over 25 UN Missions to discuss issues related to sustainable transport in the context of the Post-2015 development agenda and the Secretary General’s Action Plan on Sustainable Transport. The meeting also served as a brainstorming session to test the interest of missions to the UN to two ideas presented by H.E.
This report evaluates the historical and potential impact of transportation policies on worldwide oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Policies adopted and formally announced since 2000 will have dramatic effects: reductions of 14 percent in global oil consumption and 7 percent in global economy-wide GHG emissions below the IEA’s projected 2030 levels.
The UNFCCC Secretariat has achieved its aim of full climate neutrality by the end of 2012, through emission avoidance and reduction, plus an offsetting scheme using Adaptation Fund (AF) Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) for the remaining balance. The UNFCCC Secretariat encourages other UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations to do the same.