S u s t a i n a b l e T r a n s p o r t –S o l u t i o n s f o r G r o w i n g D e m a n d

I. Issue 2005

PREP

Promot ion of ResourceEf f ic iency Projects

www.wis ions.net

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WISIONSSustainable development is possible

WISIONS is an initiative of the Wuppertal Institutefor Climate, Environment and Energy, carried out with the support of the Swiss-based foundation Pro-Evolution, to foster practical sustainable energyprojects.

Sustainable development is possible. Numerousinnovative and valuable contributions from differentcountries, fields and institutions have shown that anappropriate reconciliation of economic, ecologicaland social factors is not unrealistic utopia.

We have made a promising start, but the greatestchallenge still facing us in the 21st century is to learnhow to use the world's resources more efficiently andin an ecologically sound and socially balanced way. Itis therefore necessary to foster projects of potentialstrategic global importance by supporting them sothey can be implemented locally. Examples of goodpractice need to be actively promoted to a wideraudience.

WISIONS promotes good practice in resource efficiency through its publication of relevant successfulprojects in its Promotion of Resource EfficiencyProjects: PREP

WISIONS also provides consulting and support toensure the potential seen in visions of renewableenergy and energy efficiency can become matureprojects through its Sustainable Energy ProjectSupport: SEPS

SUSTAINABLE ENERGYPROJECT SUPPORT - SEPS

Realistic visions and concepts of effective projectsfor sustainable energy exist, but much needed implementation sometimes fails. SEPS has the keyobjective of identifying projects with the real potentialto be of strategic importance in renewable and efficient use of energy.

By providing technical and other forms of support,SEPS seeks to overcome existing barriers and willhelp clean and efficient energy become commonplace.

The most promising renewable and energy efficiencyconcepts are selected using transparent analysisbased on internationally recognised criteria. Theselection process is done via an annual call for applications. Once a project is selected, SEPS can provide additional guidance and support, for example:

Practical expert advice and knowledge transfer for an effective implementationPotential financial support to assist with project implementationGuidance and support for obtaining additional fundingPromotion to relevant institutions, decision makers and scientistsPublication on www.wisions.net

Photo: Barbara Meinert

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Sustainable TransportSolutions for Growing Demand

Transport enables individuals to movefrom one place to another, to go to workor to participate in social life and it alsofacilitates the movement of commercialgoods. Transport supports the financialand social development not only of individuals but of whole regions.Therefore it is indispensable in this dayand age and the demand for it is growingworldwide.

Apart from all its positive effectstransport also has several adverseeffects on our health and on the environment. More than 600,000 peopledie every year in road accidents andabout 50 million people are seriouslyinjured. The World Health Organisationestimates that traffic accidents will bethe second main cause of death andinjury in developing countries by 2020.Additional health risks derive from polluting substances emitted by vehiclessuch as sooty particles, sulphur dioxideand heavy metals.

Certain technical solutions have beendeveloped in response to the need formore sustainable transport. These include,for example, lower fuel consumption -which is particularly significant in lightof the current high oil prices. Technicaladvancements such as low-weight vehiclesor hybrid concepts can improve energyefficiency in the transport sector.Alternative drives such as fuel cells, aswell as alternative fuels like bio fuels orhydrogen, are interesting in terms oftheir potential to increase levels of renewable energies used. Of course, it isnot only passenger cars that are ofinterest, but also two wheelers, means ofpublic transport and the freight sector.

In addition to technical improve-ments, structural changes in transportactivity are also essential on the road tosustainable transport. In view of theever-growing volume of transport, it isevident that technical improvementsalone will not outweigh this development.Structural improvements focus mainlyon decreasing the volume of private caruse. Corresponding examples include theenhancement of Public Urban Transportor abatement strategies based on innovative settlement structures andshort-distance material cycles.

In this brochure, WISIONS focuses onthe significance of innovative strategiesin the field of sustainable transport.WISIONS presents a number of projectsfrom around the globe that have beensuccessfully implemented, with theintention of further promoting the particular approaches used by these projects. Using a key number of interna-tionally accepted criteria, the main consideration for selection of the projectswas energy and resource efficiency, butsocial aspects such as the inclusion oflocal population were also of relevance.The assessment of the projects alsoincluded the consideration of regionalfactors acknowledging different needsand potentials.

All projects that fulfilled WISIONSapplication criteria were independentlyreviewed, and four of them, with thepotential to make a significant impacton global energy and resource efficiency,are published in the following pages.WISIONS is pleased to present goodpractice examples from ambitious projects which have been successfullyimplemented on different continents. Allof these projects are appropriate withintheir local context and have been developed to a level which meetsWISIONS selection criteria. Althoughuniquely designed for a particular settingand problem, the projects presented canbe adapted to different situations or canprovide valuable information from theirimplementation phase. Links to the illustrated good practice examplesshown in the brochure, as well as a coupleof other issue-related projects, are available on www.wisions.net

The selected projects are not intendedto represent the only possible directionsto take in the field of sustainable transportbut they do demonstrate promisingapproaches.

The next PREP-brochure, which willfollow the same objectives - namely tocollect, evaluate and promote goodpractice examples - will highlight theissue of "Sustainable Tourism".

Photo: Jenny W.

Photo: Nikolai Bockholt

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Improvement of Transport Conditions in Sibiu, Romania

Location:Sibiu, Romania

Project's Aim: Regenerate urban public

space and provide facilitiesfor residents and visitors

MethodologicalSolution:

Transport strategy focusing on reduced

car usage and on limited parking in

the city centre

Sibiu is an up and coming Romanian city which hasbeen experiencing a substantial economic growthover the last few years. Rapid growth in private carusage has accompanied the increased prosperity of itspopulation. The local public transport, on the otherhand, is unable to meet the needs of the population.With its old and unappealing vehicle fleet, unreliableservices and overloaded buses, the public transportservice is avoided by residents who switch to usingprivate cars as soon as they can afford it.

Since 2000 the Deutsche Gesellschaft fürTechnische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (on behalfof the German Ministry for Economic Cooperationand Development), by means of the German-Romanian Cooperation Project "Rehabilitation of theHistoric Centre" has supported the municipality ofSibiu in the renovation of houses and the conservation ofurban space in the historic centre. The awareness thattraffic management is an important issue has resultedin technical assistance for the development andimplementation of a sustainable urban transport strategy.In light of Sibiu's forthcoming role as EuropeanCultural Capital in 2007 and its application to be

awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the develop-ment of a sustainable transport strategy for the city isof particular importance.

By implementing a parking policy and restrictivetraffic routing, the transport strategy is intended todiscourage driving and parking in the city centre. Atthe same time, by improving the infrastructure andservice quality of public transport it is hoped thatresidents and non-residents will be encouraged to usethese services.

BENEFITS

Focusing on the historic centre, both the parkingpolicy and the new traffic routing will discouragenon-residents to travel by car into the centre.Residents of the historic centre will be free from thecurrent high pollution levels. Public space can be re-allocated, allowing for additional green space orlandscaping to improve the urban environment. It isalso anticipated that the historic centre will benefiteconomically from the extended car-free zones withthe development of high quality shops and restaurants.

An immense reduction in energy consumption (i.e. fuel) can be achieved through a shift from privatecar usage to the use of public transport. The improvementof the public transport system, together with the restrictions put upon private car users, will also contribute to social justice and equality as it is generally the poorer sectors of society which rely ontransport at reasonable costs.

METHODOLOGY

With the new circulation concept, the pedestrianzone will be extended and a centre-wide one-waysystem with loops will be introduced. Further trafficcalming measures are planned for residential roadswith the introduction of access and speed restrictions. In the long term the redesign of theseroads is intended to create a safe environment that isresident and child friendly.

Photo: Karin Rossmark

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CONTACT

Deutsche Gesellschaft für TechnischeZusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbHDr. Reiner Kobloe-mail: reiner.koblo@gtz.deURL: www.gtz.de

Additionally, a restrictive parking policyhas been developed that includes residential and short-term parking.While residential parking permits havealready been introduced, the implemen-tation of short-term parking with higherparking prices and reduced parking timeaccording to the proximity to the historiccentre is planned within the nextmonths.

For the upgrading of the public transportsystem, a sophisticated SWOT analysis ofthe current infrastructure and servicehas been conducted. With the focus oninexpensive, quick-to-implement measures,an action plan has been worked out thataims to address the problem areas.

SUSTAINABILITY

The general public was involved in theplanning process in Sibiu, during whichthree major public consultations tookplace where the concept was presentedand people could raise their concerns. Atthe end of the GTZ project in 2007, anurban rehabilitation agency will beestablished to continue the work. Know-how transfer was provided throughworkshops, study tours and general cooperation. It is intended that thisagency will also continue to consult on transport issues.

REPLICABILITY

It is likely that the principles of theproject will be replicated, since it is acomprehensive strategy and the generalobjectives are applicable to all cities.With low investment costs and the possibility for the implementation totake place stage by stage according tothe municipality's budget it would be, inaddition, easily adoptable by most developing countries.

Investments in infrastructure need acomprehensive and reliable database aswell as modern transport planning procedures. The Sibiu project serves todemonstrate how such data and modelscan be developed.

FINANCIAL ISSUES

Requiring low levels of time input andlimited financial investment, the projectis reasonably efficient. Financial support ofthe project was restricted to consultancyservices, while the municipality pays forthe implementation.

For a period of one and a half yearssupport was provided to the transportproject by experts on a short-term basis,followed by one long-term assignmentlasting 8 months. In addition to the concepts which were developed for theproject, workshops have taken place withthe purpose of providing informationand training for local partners, and astudy tour to Germany was organised forone of the local partners during the project period.

OBSTACLES

The major obstacles which needed tobe overcome during the project were theshortage of reliable data, gaps in know-ledge, lack of experience of local partnersand uncertainties about regulations. Inorder to make the development of acomprehensive transport strategy possible,a comprehensive and accurate databasehas been compiled and knowledge hasbeen transferred to local partners.

The active support from the municipalityand its personnel was a key factor in thesuccess of the project. Unfortunately,due to restricted funding it was notpossible to expand the project e.g. toimplement the public transport improvement strategy or to undertakefurther training of municipality personnelin modern transport planning techniques.

Photo: Karin Rossmark

Photo: Karin Rossmark

More information about WISIONS,application criteria for PREP and SEPS, aswell as prior PREP-issues are available at:

www.wisions.net

© Wuppertal Institute 2005. All rights reserved.

Contact us:

Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and EnergyDoeppersberg 1942103 WuppertalGermany

e-mail: info@wisions.netPhone: + 49 (0) 202 . 24 92 252

Imprint

Publisher: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

Photos: All images in this publication have been reproduced with

the knowledge and prior consent of the participants.

Lector: Katherine Penker, Perthshire, Scotland

Layout: www.bertz-marketingdesign.de, Wuppertal

Printing: Offsetdruckerei Figge, Wuppertal

Prior Issues

I. Issue 2004 Resource Efficient ConstructionII. Issue 2004 Water and Energy – Precious Resources