A strategic package of policies could help achieve a 60% reduction in London’s transport sector carbon emissions, it has been claimed.
The VIBAT (visioning and back-casting for transport in London) project has tested a number of scenarios, with the aim of achieving a big reduction in the sector where emissions are still currently rising.
The project – led by consultant Halcrow, in association with Transport for London and the Greater London Authority – developed a ‘back-casting’ approach to transport planning in the capital ,with the vision of a sustainable future in 2025 and 2050.
The team ‘casted’ back to the present day and determined the steps needed in order to implement a carbon-efficient system.
Dr Robin Hickman, project manager, said: ‘Transport is currently the sector which finds it most difficult to reduce carbon emissions. Strategic targets tend to be adopted, with little knowledge as to how they are likely to be achieved.’
The study suggests that effective interventions – such as promoting low-emission vehicles, investment in public transport, walking and cycling, and behavioural change measures – can help London reach a 60% by 2025, and ‘deeper cuts’ beyond.
The promotion of ecological driving and slower speeds is also highlighted as key to achieving this target. The project applied a web-based simulation model to help recreate the choices available to move towards carbon-efficient transport. This enabled the team to assess how multiple policy measures could be optimally packaged in order to achieve the ambitious carbon-reduction targets.
‘Scenario-testing methodolo- gies are becoming central to transport planning as we seek to understand the implications of economic volatility and financial constraints, and how to address potentially competing environmental, economic and social inclusion goals,’ Dr Hickman added.
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