Transport policies towards sustainability in large urban agglomerations

Abstract

The transportation sector remains one of the main causes for accelerated discharge of greenhouse gases (GHG). Especially large urban agglomerations with dense road networks and vehicle-dependent transportation systems are responsible for the production of GHG. This becomes problematic as more Megacities emerge and motorization rates rise parallel to an increased welfare. In this context, Megacities are both spaces of risk as well as they offer opportunities for interventions to reduce emissions and improve air quality and the transportation systems performance. Hence, for the existent and emerging Megacities – also in Latin America – it is constantly necessary to implement and monitor political interventions which can help to assure an appropriate coexistence of different modes, aiming at the minimization of the negative impacts of transportation. The speech gives an overview about the general contribution of the transportation sector with regard to GHG and climate change. It then highlights the importance of Megacities as main producers of pollutants. This issue is addressed with regard to strategies towards improvements in the transportation sector. Following, different transport policies are presented and discussed that seem adequate to move the urban transportation systems towards sustainability. As an example, first results of qualitative expert interviews among important actors of the transportation sector in Santiago de Chile were presented focusing on the identification of relevant transport measures in Santiago.