TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
OECD International Conference, Vancouver Canada

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Session 2A - Guiding Principles for the Achievement of Sustainable Transportation

Abstract of address by Per Kågeson

The Concept of Sustainable Transport

For something to be sustainable it has to be able to maintain its normal qualities over a very long period of time: essentially "forever." According to Agenda 21 it is necessary to meet the basic needs of all citizens of the earth while at the same time protecting and maintaining our natural resources and ecosystems.

A strict interpretation of sustainable transport means that we should concentrate on measures aimed at avoiding long-term damage. From a practical point of view, however, there are good reasons to adopt a definition which also includes major short-term disturbances to nature as well as negative effects on human health.

Economic theory says that we should try to achieve any goal at the least possible cost. From this point of view it is clearly wrong to enforce the same physical restrictions on the use of fossil fuels in all sectors of society or to demand a flat rate reduction in all sectors of any given pollutant. This implies that we should refrain mandatory restrictions on the use of different modes of transport, and that we should use economic policy levers rather than different types of regulation.

There is, however, also a great deal that agues in favor of introducing performance targets for the transport sector. There are two particular reasons for this. One is that transport is the source of 30 to 40 per cent of some pollutants, and there is no way that the aggregate emissions can be reduced below critical loads and limits without a major contribution form transport. The second reason is that taxing fuels and emissions is not alone going to achieve these objectives. Market imperfections make it necessary to use additional policy measures such as more stringent emission limit values, fuel efficiency standards and mandatory check-ups for old vehicles.

A policy aimed at achieving sustainable mobility should:

1. define parameters to be included in the definition of sustainable transport
2. be based on a long-term objective which guarantees ecosystems maintain their normal qualities
3. include intermediate targets and a clear medium and long-term timetable in cases where it is obvious that an objective based on sustainable development cannot be achieved in the foreseeable future
4. make sure such intermediate goals bring us considerably closer to our final objective
5.  include decisions on measures and policy levers that are likely to fulfill objectives and make short-term commitments trustworthy.

If sustainable transport is to have a meaning, governments need to develop an operational definition of this concept and to commit themselves to a firm implementation of short and longterm objectives. Without clear objectives and a strict timetable there can never be a policy of sustainable mobility!

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