Sustainable transport in the senses of social, environmental and climate impacts
A subtopic of sustainability
Sustainable transport
Also relevant to:
Transport
Carfree city
Climate change
Eco-cities
Ecodistrict
Free public transport
Greenway
New Urbanism
Renewable energy
Sustainable city
Sustainable urbanism
Transit village
Urban design
Aspects of sustainable transport:
15-minute city
Bicycle-friendly
Carbon neutral fuel
Complete streets
Cyclability
Cycling infrastructure
Electric vehicle
Green vehicle
Human-powered land vehicle
Human-powered transport
Pedestrian zone
Plug-in hybrid
Public transport
Road traffic safety
Sustainable transport
Transit-oriented development
Transportation demand management
Transportation planning
Walkability
Walking audit
Sustainable transport toolbox
Outline of sustainability
Index of sustainability articles
Transport portal
v
t
e
Part of a series on
Sustainable energy
Energy conservation
Arcology
Building insulation
Cogeneration
Eco hotel
Efficient energy use
Energy storage
Environmental planning
Environmental technology
Fossil fuel phase-out
Green building
Green building and wood
Heat pump
List of low-energy building techniques
Low-energy house
Microgeneration
Sustainable architecture
Sustainable city
Sustainable habitat
Sustainable refurbishment
Thermal energy storage
Tropical green building
Zero-energy building
Zero heating building
Renewable energy
Biofuel
Sustainable
Biogas
Biomass
Carbon-neutral fuel
Geothermal
Hydropower
Hydroelectricity
Marine energy
Tidal
Renewable energy transition
Renewable heat
Solar
Wave
Wind
Sustainable transport
Green vehicle
Electric vehicle
Bicycle
Solar vehicle
Wind-powered vehicle
Hybrid vehicle
Human-electric
Twike
Plug-in
Human-powered transport
Helicopter
Hydrofoil
Land vehicle
Bicycle
Cycle rickshaw
Kick scooter
Quadracycle
Tricycle
Velomobile
Roller skating
Skateboarding
Walking
Watercraft
Personal transporter
Rail transport
Tram
Rapid transit
Personal rapid transit
Category
Renewable energy portal
v
t
e
Sustainable transport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used for road, water or air transport; the source of energy; and the infrastructure used to accommodate the transport (roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and terminals). Transport operations and logistics as well as transit-oriented development are also involved in evaluation.[citation needed] Transportation sustainability is largely being measured by transportation system effectiveness and efficiency as well as the environmental and climate impacts of the system.[1] Transport systems have significant impacts on the environment, accounting for between 20% and 25% of world energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.[2] The majority of the emissions, almost 97%, came from direct burning of fossil fuels.[3] In 2019, about 95% of the fuel came from fossil sources. The main source of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union is transportation. In 2019 it contributes to about 31% of global emissions and 24% of emissions in the EU. In addition, up to the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions have only increased in this one sector.[4][5] Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are increasing at a faster rate than any other energy using sector.[6] Road transport is also a major contributor to local air pollution and smog.[7]
Sustainable transport systems make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve. Transport systems exist to provide social and economic connections, and people quickly take up the opportunities offered by increased mobility,[8] with poor households benefiting greatly from low carbon transport options.[9] The advantages of increased mobility need to be weighed against the environmental, social and economic costs that transport systems pose. Short-term activity often promotes incremental improvement in fuel efficiency and vehicle emissions controls while long-term goals include migrating transportation from fossil-based energy to other alternatives such as renewable energy and use of other renewable resources. The entire life cycle of transport systems is subject to sustainability measurement and optimization.[10]
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that each year 2.4 million premature deaths from outdoor air pollution could be avoided.[11] Particularly hazardous for health are emissions of black carbon, a component of particulate matter, which is a known cause of respiratory and carcinogenic diseases and a significant contributor to global climate change.[12] The links between greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter make low carbon transport an increasingly sustainable investment at local level—both by reducing emission levels and thus mitigating climate change; and by improving public health through better air quality.[12] The term "green mobility" also refers to clean ways of movement or sustainable transport.[13]
The social costs of transport include road crashes, air pollution, physical inactivity,[14] time taken away from the family while commuting and vulnerability to fuel price increases. Many of these negative impacts fall disproportionately on those social groups who are also least likely to own and drive cars.[15] Traffic congestion imposes economic costs by wasting people's time and by slowing the delivery of goods and services. Traditional transport planning aims to improve mobility, especially for vehicles, and may fail to adequately consider wider impacts. But the real purpose of transport is access – to work, education, goods and services, friends and family – and there are proven techniques to improve access while simultaneously reducing environmental and social impacts, and managing traffic congestion.[16] Communities which are successfully improving the sustainability of their transport networks are doing so as part of a wider program of creating more vibrant, livable, sustainable cities.
^Jeon, C M; Amekudzi (March 2005), "Addressing Sustainability in Transportation Systems: Definitions, Indicators, and Metrics" (PDF), Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 11: 31–50, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(2005)11:1(31), archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03, retrieved 2012-11-21
^World Energy Council (2007). "Transport Technologies and Policy Scenarios". World Energy Council. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
^"About Transportation & Climate Change: Transportation's Role in Climate Change: Overview - DOT Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse". climate.dot.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^"Get on the bus first to make Nicosia tram infrastructure worth the investment". European Investment Bank. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
^Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007). "IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Mitigation of Climate Change, chapter 5, Transport and its Infrastructure" (PDF). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
^"National multipollutant emissions comparison by source sector in 2002". US Environmental Protection Agency. 2002. Archived from the original on 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
^Schafer, A. (1998) "The global demand for motorized mobility." Transportation Research A32(6), 455-477.
^"LEDS in Practice: Fight poverty". Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP). Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
^Helping to Build a Safe and Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure(PDF), U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration, May 2010, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-07-10, retrieved 2012-11-21
^"Air pollution: World's worst Environmental health risk" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
^ ab"LEDS in Practice: Breathe clean". Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP). Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
^"What are connected autonomous vehicles?". European Investment Bank. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
^World Health Organisation, Europe. "Health effects of transport". Archived from the original on 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
^Social Exclusion Unit, Office of the Prime Minister (UK). "Making the Connections - final report on transport and social exclusion" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2003-02-01.
^Todd Litman (1998). "Measuring Transportation: Traffic, Mobility and Accessibility" (PDF). Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
and 29 Related for: Sustainable transport information
Sustainabletransport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating...
The SustainableTransport Award (STA), is presented annually to a city that has shown leadership and vision in the field of sustainable transportation...
"Sustainabletransport". Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-09-26. "Sustainable transport...
distinguishes the two like this: "Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal (i.e. a more sustainable world), while sustainable development refers to...
but are generally far more sustainable than fossil fuel sources. The role of non-renewable energy sources in sustainable energy is controversial. Nuclear...
Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11 or Global Goal 11), titled "sustainable cities and communities", is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established...
UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 defines sustainable cities as those that are dedicated to achieving green sustainability, social sustainability and...
living closely follows the overall principles of sustainable development. One approach to sustainable living, exemplified by small-scale urban transition...
to make the concept of sustainable development better known. Sustainable development overlaps with the idea of sustainability which is a normative concept...
Cycling and walking, above all, have been recognized as the most sustainabletransport systems. In general, all muscle-driven mobility will have a similar...
by promoting sustainable tourism as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, through programs like the International Year for Sustainable Tourism for...
Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Goal 9 or SDG 9) is about "industry, innovation and infrastructure" and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals...
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They...
Sustainabletransport is transport with either lower environmental footprint per passenger, per distance or higher capacity. Typically sustainable transport...
electrolysis. The project ran from 2001 to 2005. STEP stands for SustainableTransport Energy for Perth. This initiative of the Government of Western Australia's...
Sustainable biofuel is biofuel produced in a sustainable manner. It is not based on petroleum or other fossil fuels. It includes not using plants that...
Patronage (transport) Private transport Public transport bus service Public transport route planner Public transport timetable Sustainabletransport Transit...
generations”. It seeks to promote a sustainable human society with a basis of human health and well-being, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity...
7.3 Transport". rudi.net. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2020. EMBARQ – The WRI Center for SustainableTransport (November...
Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials (and by a sustainable process) that reduces demands on ecosystems during its life-cycle.[according...
The green transport hierarchy (Canada), street user hierarchy (US), sustainabletransport hierarchy (Wales), urban transport hierarchy or road user hierarchy...
governmental efforts to develop more sustainable transportation, ITDP publishes the magazine SustainableTransport annually, produces the BRT Standard...
12 January 2023. Eberle, Ulrich; von Helmolt, Rittmar (14 May 2010). "Sustainable transportation based on EV concepts: a brief overview". Energy & Environmental...
governmental concern for many years. Human powered transport, a form of sustainable transportation, is the transport of people and/or goods using human muscle-power...
Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current...
established the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). In 2013, the CSD was replaced by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development that meets...
Living Quarters in Hanoi Towards Sustainable Mobility and Logistics". Procedia Engineering. Proceeding of Sustainable Development of Civil, Urban and Transportation...