MOBILIZING DEVELOPMENT

17 Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development
long distance or international freight transport, where
multiple transport modes and options are likely to be
available. In rural areas, where options are often limited,
‘shifting’ is less relevant, at least in the short-term.
Other imperatives, including the speed demanded
by consumers, may also mean that some freight or
shipping operators, for instance, focus more on the
‘improve’ approach, though there are instances where
freight may be shifted from road to rail or waterways or
from conventional delivery trucks to electric vehicles.
Ultimately, however, the world as a whole can work
toward ‘shifting’ to a reality where efficient and effective
intermodality is achieved and all modes contribute to a
better system.
The concept of enabling is a critical addition to the
‘Avoid-Shift-Improve’ framework, and it is in the realm
of enabling that many of this report’s recommendations
have been developed. Essentially, as a prerequisite to
effectively employ ‘Avoid-Shift-Improve,’ sound policy
and governance structures and basic technical and
financial capacities at all levels must be in place. While
most developed states tend to have such structures
and capabilities at least in some form, many countries,
especially in the developing world, need capacity
building to create or enhance them.
In terms of its understanding of the ‘Avoid-Shift-Improve’
framework and other concepts of sustainable transport,
the current report builds on important work already
undertaken by a range of stakeholders in academia,
industry and policy circles. The Bogota Declaration on
Sustainable Transport Objectives is one such milestone
that provides an important foundation. 29
The Climate Change Imperative
Transport is responsible for 23% of global energyrelated
greenhouse gas emissions, so it will be
impossible to address climate change without
promoting sustainable transport. 30 Recognizing this,
members of the transport community came together
in 2014, as part of the Secretary-General’s Climate
Summit, and announced four transport initiatives to
help combat climate change through expanding use
of electric vehicles, increasing the efficiency of rail
transport and air travel, and enhancing public transport
in cities around the world. 31
Linked to these initiatives is the efficient, clean and
responsible freight movement, known as ‘Green
Freight,’ which aims to protect the environment and
public health, contribute to energy and cost savings,
and support the vitality of the global economy and
communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and air pollutants. The “Global Green Freight Action
Plan” of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition uses
Dedicated Freight Corridor in India
The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) is one of the
largest transport infrastructure projects
implemented in India, conceived to meet the needs
of India’s rapid economic growth while inducing
further regional economic development. The DFC
project signifies a major transition in the freight
transport sector by increasing the relative share of
rail as an energy efficient, environment friendly and
less carbon-intensive mode of transport. It is
expected that DFC will save more than 450 million
tons of CO 2
in first 30 years of operation.
In 2016, construction is well advanced on both
the Western & Eastern sections. When complete,
these will add over 3,360 route kilometres of
electrified high capacity rail lines with connections
to multimodal logistics parks, freight terminals and
ports. Benefits include freeing up of capacity on the
existing network for passenger services.
The cost for the project will be funded by a
combination of debt from bilateral/multilateral
agencies, equity from Ministry of Railways and
public-private partnership.
Connected to recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
sector assessments, technology pilots, demonstration
projects, and training programs to support reductions
in the emissions of greenhouse gases, black carbon
and air pollutants in the freight sector through a
greener and more energy efficient multimodal global
supply chain. 32
These efforts, and others, including the Dedicated
Freight Corridor in India (described above), illustrate the
potential effectiveness of partnership approaches to
tackling the climate crisis.
Transitioning to a sustainable transport system is essential
in order to reduce carbon emissions by the 7 gigatonnes 33
required to meet the 2 degree climate change scenario.