Bridging the Gap | News

Official Bridging the Gap Side Event on 'Financing Transport NAMAs' at UNFCCC SB38

2013-05-23T10:27:00+01:00

Bridging the Gap is organizing an official side event at this year’s UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Bonn taking place from 3rd to the 14th of June. The Side Event will be on Friday, 7 June from 15h00 to 16h30 in room Wind in the Ministry for the Environment (next to Hotel Maritim). This event will present options for financing NAMAs in the land transport sector as well as opportunities to develop sustainable climate change actions in land transport. The event is supported by the SLoCaT partnership and EMBARQ Mexico.

Training on Sustainable Transport and Climate Change in Bali on April 26th

2013-05-17T13:35:00+01:00

A Post-Event of the Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia

Low carbon transport and climate change are difficult topics to understand. This training has been developed to increase the awareness and understanding of this complex issue. The target audience includes national and local government officials and planners responsible for transport and/or the environment.

The training, directly after the Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia, gives insights into the international climate change process as well as helping to identify what opportunities and benefits developing countries might have from taking a low carbon approach to transport policy development, planning and development. The training includes presentations from transport and climate change experts as well as international examples. Those taking part will receive a GIZ certificate of training.

For program of the training course: Click here

Global NAMA Financing Summit 15-17 May

2013-05-17T09:39:00+01:00

The Centre for Clear Air Policy (CCAP) and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building are holding a Global NAMA Financing Summit in Copenhagen from May 15-17.

The event will bring together high-level representatives from developing countries and key contributing countries, along with private-sector investors, and other financial institutions. The aim is to identify shared interests and overcome barriers to enable increased implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to become a reality.

Official GIZ Side Event on “NAMAs in the Transport Sector” at UNFCCC SB38

2013-05-16T14:17:00+01:00

The Side Event will be on Wednesday, 5 June from 18h30 to 20h00 in room Solar in the Ministry for the Environment (next to Hotel Maritim). We will have a closer look at NAMAs in the transport sector and focus on sharing experiences of elaborating and implementing NAMAs in the transport sector as well as discussing potential lessons that could be fed into the UNFCCC process. note: Only registered persons in possession of a conference badge (UNFCCC SB38) will be able to attend.

New report shows cleaner buses can provide a greener future for cities

2013-05-02T13:02:45+01:00

A new report released by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) reveals the results of new, clean bus technology which could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as overall pollution in the world's leading urban centres.

The C40 Chair, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the results of the Hybrid and Electric Bus Test Program at the New York Times Building Sustainable Cities conference, highlighting that hybrid and electric bus technologies can perform at least as well if not better than comparable diesel-powered buses, and with a greater economic benefit.

The Program was implemented by local governments, bus suppliers, and bus operators in the C40 cities of Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Santiago. It is hoped that this early commitment to the adoption of new bus technologies by C40 cities could encourage suppliers to invest in further technological development.

Reducing emissions through more foot paths, cycle lanes and expanding local public transport

2013-04-29T16:07:00+01:00

Apart from the technically increasing efficiency of vehicles, it is necessary to take non-technical measures, like expanding foot and cycle paths and local public transport, in order to reduce greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. On behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) in Heidelberg and the INFRAS AG Zurich examined five policy measures to decrease traffic emissions regarding its costs and economic benefits. The results will be presented at the Fraunhofer-Forum in Berlin on the 29th of April.

The study "Economic aspects of non-technical measures to reduce transport emissions" analyzes the following five transport policy measures in terms of the costs for their implementation as well as their consequences on private and public costs, the Gross Domestic Product and the employment until 2030.

1.Increasing the share of pedestrians and bicycles in urban mobilization at the expense of car users by 10 percentage points

This measure promotes the reduction of private and environmental costs. The notably higher risk of injury for cyclists and pedestrians can be reduced by changing the infrastructure in an appropriate way, including safe cycle routes, attractive footpaths and meeting zones for all transport participants.

2.Increasing the share of public transport in urban passenger services by 10 percentage points

Above all, the costs of urban commuter and long distance traffic can be reduced. In order to win more users for public transport, fast and reliable connections and attractive vehicles are required. For the provision of rapid connections, the road space of passenger cars should be restricted and busses and trains should be given priority at crossroads and traffic lights.

3.Shortening the average distances travelled by car by 10 percent

Distant destinations should be replaced by closer alternatives in order to lower variable costs like fuel usage and emissions. Thus, the greatest overall economic benefit could be achieved, combined with the highest demand of investments (e.g. reorganization of urban areas, expansion of recreational areas). Possible instruments include abolishing subventions for commuters and introducing a toll for private cars according to distance and time of day.

4.More efficient car use with fuel savings of 10 percent per person

Private maintenance and operating costs can be reduced by smaller and more efficient car use and even without additional investments what results in the biggest cost-benefit-ratio. Fleet limits and taxes, differentiated by fuel consumption or CO2-emissions, are possible.

5.Increasing the railway share in national freight transport by 10 percent

Thus, possible reductions in operating, environmental and safety costs are combined with higher time costs. Investments to increase the capacity of the railway network and competition between operators would be required.

The direct investments might range from annually one billion euros for cycle and foot paths to more than ten billion euros to redesign the city structure. The expected benefits of four of five measures, however, have a positive effect on the GDP. The investments in infrastructure mostly compensate the negative effects of the automobile industry. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by two percent due to the shifts in traffic and up to 30 percent by reducing car journeys.

Sustainable transport crucial in tackling climate change, says UN

2013-04-29T16:04:00+01:00

The role of sustainable transport is vital in creating safe and habitable cities in Asia and fighting climate change, according to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Bali at the UN based Seventh Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia.

"On a global scale it is essential that we better design and build transport infrastructure to make it safer and more environmentally friendly, and to minimize vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters," stressed Mr. Ban.

During the meeting, which focused on sustainable development, a variety of topics were discussed including the promotion of public bicycle schemes, greenways initiatives and high quality pedestrian areas, and the full integration of public transport modes, according to the UN.

Ban highlighted these as priorities not only in tackling climate change, but also in the fight against global poverty as sustainable transport acts to facilitate access to jobs, good and services.

Ban reiterated this in an appeal to Brazil's National Association of Mayors, following the Rio+20 summit in 2012, about the necessity of sustainable cities for growing urban populations when he also emphasised the role of cities, towns and local governments when it comes to sustainable urban development.

20 years of the single market achievements in transport

2013-04-29T16:02:00+01:00

Safer skies, seas and roads, decent working hours for people with jobs in the transport industry and wider choices for those using it, fighting pollution now and finding new technologies to make our future journeys even cleaner - we've been busy over the last 20 years at European level to make transport better. Read on to see 20 examples of how Europe has made your life easier and safer through better transport.

Launch of new Action Network on Sustainable Transport

2013-04-24T16:20:00+01:00

The UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), has announced the launch of the Sustainable Transport Action Network as part of its Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.

The Action Network was set up to address the need for sustainable transport that provides access to goods and services in support of economic and social development whilst minimizing the negative environmental, social and economic impacts of a continually expanding transport sector.

The latest issue of the DSD newsletter "Sustainable Development in Action" emphasises the importance of sustainable transport in future development, and highlights transport as one of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's six building blocks for sustainable development in his five-year action agenda.

The Action Network integrates various initiatives including the Voluntary Commitments on sustainable transport made at Rio+20. The Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) helps to coordinate the initiatives under the Action Network.

GIZ at Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia

2013-04-24T16:14:00+01:00

The GIZ Transport Sector Policy Project, TRANSfer and the Regional Programme "Cities - Environment - Transport" in the ASEAN Region are contributing with various activities towards the Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia, taking place in Bali, Indonesia.

Today the report "Transit Alliances - Towards fully integrated public transport" has been launched as a background paper for the EST Forum.

For details about the event please visit the official website: Click here

The background report, which will be published in its final version as a SUTP Sourcebook Module later this year, can be downloaded: Click here

New Climate Finance Website Launched

2013-04-22T16:23:00+01:00

As part of a collaborative project between the Institute for Policy Studies and the Heinrich Boell Foundation North America, a new website providing information on climate finance and markets has been launched.

The website provides a platform for those interested in gaining a better understanding of the current dialogues about the roles of public institutions and the private sector in energy and climate-related finance, and their intersection.

Information on the website includes a glossary of climate finance terms, an online course covering private sector climate finance, and a toolkit containing modules and case studies on climate finance.

Bridging the Gap goes to Bali - 7th Regional EST Forum

2013-04-17T16:24:00+01:00

Bridging the Gap experts plan to attend the 7th Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Bali (EST-ASIA). A training course (post-event) on sustainable transport and climate change is also organised by the BtG team on April 26th.

The course will take place in Melia Hotel, Bali, from 9:00 to 17:00. Manfred Breithaupt, Stefan Bakker (GIZ) and Heather Allen (TRL) are among the trainers that confirmed their participation.

To download the programme and further information: Click here

Training on Sustainable Transport and Climate Change in Bali on April 26th

2013-04-15T16:27:00+01:00

A Post-Event of the Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia

For program of the training course: Click here

European Commission pushes for new binding targets for emissions, renewables and efficiency

2013-04-15T16:25:00+01:00

The European Commission published a strategy document that outlines possible options for new climate targets by 2030. In response to the investors' complaint that the current 20-20-20 targets cannot provide certainty for long run investments, the commission agreed to set up new targets for 2030. Connie Hedegaard, European commissioner for climate action, stated that the new binding climate change abatement targets will aim to give investors in low-carbon technologies more long-term certainty, but also to raise the deflated price of carbon in the EU's emissions trading system.

The specific figures for the new targets are not known yet. Nevertheless, commissioner Hedegaard said that those might be higher than a'30-30-30' package. Campaigners and renewable energy companies reacted with cautious optimism to the Commission's announcement.

CEN publishes European standard for calculation of GHG emissions

2013-04-11T13:19:00+01:00

The CEN standard EN 16258, covering "Methodology for calculation and declaration of energy consumption and GHG emissions of transport services (freight and passengers)", has been published.

EN 16258 is the first European standard on this issue and it specifies general principles, definitions, system boundaries, calculation methods, apportionment rules (allocation) and data recommendations, with the objective to promote standardised, accurate, credible and verifiable declarations, regarding energy consumption and GHG emissions related to any transport service.

UNFCCC recognises the work of BtG and SLoCat on NAMAs and MRV

2013-04-10T13:20:00+01:00

BtG and SLoCaT work on NAMAs and MRV has been recently recognised by the UNFCCC. Following a joint submission to the UNFCCC, BtG and SLoCaT will take a more active role in these discussions and will also collaborate with GIZ, aiming to provide input to the NAMA partnership working group on MRV (in relation to transport NAMAs). Information on the progress and present state of the art on transport NAMAs will be circulated at the upcoming regional UNFCCC workshops (e.g. Lesotho, April 16-19th 2013; others to be confirmed).

TRIP re-launches open source database

2013-04-08T13:26:00+01:00

The Transport Research and Innovation Portal (TRIP) has recently re-launched a database with more than 7400 research projects on transport, covering 24 themes at European, national and international levels.

The portal offers access to at least 3100 references to climate change across all modes of transport; further information can be downloaded from: Click here

The portal also provides information about research activities in transport, as well as complementary information about Policy Brochures and Thematic Research summaries.

Aligned R&D and transport policy to meet EU GHG reduction targets - Final Report

2013-04-08T13:22:00+01:00

This report synthesizes the activities and the findings of the GHG-TransPoRD project.

GHG-TransPoRD has developed an integrated European transport sector strategy that links R&D efforts with other transport policies and technological measures to achieve substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in transport that are in line with the overall GHG reduction targets of the EU, in particular verifying if the target proposed by the European Transport White Paper "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area" (2011) could actually be met.

SLoCaT Input to the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda

2013-04-04T13:28:00+01:00

The Partnership on Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) provided inputs to the report by the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on Post-2015 Development Agenda and jointly with the Bridging the Gap Initiative made a submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technology Advice (SBSTA) of the United Framework Convention on Climate Change.

To encourage the integration of sustainable transport in the report of the HLP of Eminent Persons on the post 2015 development agenda SLoCaT prepared a document describing the crucial contribution transport has to sustainable development and providing recommendations for integrating sustainable transport into the post 2015 framework for sustainable development.

Transport is the second largest sector in terms of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) proposed by developing countries. As a follow-up to the results of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action, the SBSTA is now discussing the arrangements for the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of NAMAs.The joint SLoCaT and Bridging the Gap submission on MRV of domestic NAMAs argues that it is important for NAMA MRV guidelines to reflect the specific characteristics of transport and that this will enable the transport sector to contribute more significantly towards mitigation of climate change.

Financing Climate Change Mitigation in Transport @ ITF Leipzig

2013-04-03T13:30:00+01:00

GIZ is organizing a side event at this years International Transport Forum (ITF) in Leipzig on Financing Climate Change Mitigation in Transport. The side event will present early experiences in climate finance and discuss opportunities and expectations of developing countries, the private sector and multilateral development banks.

ICAO Backs Indonesian Aviation Emissions Reduction

2013-04-02T13:32:00+01:00

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has announced the commencement of a large-scale Environmental Measures Project, to be undertaken jointly between Indonesia's Ministry of Transport and ICAO's Technical Co-operation Bureau (ICAO-TCB).

The project goals include: a Master Plan for improvements to Indonesian legislation on emissions; operational programmes regarding green flights and green airports; more efficient airspace design; advice on appropriate market-based measures; initiatives relating to alternative fuels; and the development of a comprehensive emissions inventory.

The initiative is part of the Organisation's efforts to support member States towards mitigating international aviation carbon emissions.

Mexico receives $ 1 million USD for the development of its first transport NAMA

2013-03-27T13:33:00Z

The Partnership for Market Readiness (PMR) has recently approved a grant of $3 million USD for the development of 3 NAMAs in Mexico, one of them ($1 million USD) in the land transport sector. The transport NAMA refers to the National programme for Urban Transport and it will be developed by the Mexican Ministry of Environment with the support of BANOBRAS and the National fund for Infrastructure (FONADIN).

The grant covers the costs for the first phase of the NAMA development, aiming to work towards the improvement of the institutional framework and provide capacity building to local authorities. The development of a baseline and the respective MRV methodology are also top priorities of the programme.

The Partnership for Market Readiness is a global initiative that aims to provide donations for the development of pilot projects that are related to GHG emission reductions and carbon markets.

Public transport can play a major role in enabling future multimodal electric urban mobility

2013-03-26T13:35:00Z

Smart, interconnected and low carbon transport is a necessity for the economic future and liveability of European cities : such was the message at an event organised by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) on 5 March.

NAMA Workshop in Peru

2013-03-25T13:38:00Z

A technical workshop was held from 14-15 March in Lima Peru, jointly organised by the Peruvian Environmental Ministry, the UN Development Programme Low-Emission Capacity Building Programme, the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and Ecofys' Mitigation Momentum Project. The workshop focused on the development and implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) within three sectors in Peru.

A step-wise and systematic approach was used to guide participants through the basics of NAMAs and the national context for developing NAMAs in Peru. The workshop then broke into three sectoral working groups tackling possible NAMAs for construction, transport and bioenergy; considering the specific mitigation concepts and corresponding implementation barriers.

Each working group presented its results to the final plenary in terms of opportunities and difficulties identified, activities and responsibilities, and next steps.

The workshop was held under the framework of the capacity-building programme of the International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV (Measuring, Reporting and Verification), launched within the framework of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in May 2010 in Bonn, Germany, by South Africa, South Korea and Germany.