Reducing Transportation Emissions with Improved Land Use and Travel Efficiency

There is a growing consensus that the U.S. and other developed countries need to reduce their greenhouse (GHG) emissions by 60 to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 to limit global warming to 2-3ºC above pre-industrial levels and ward off the most severe impacts of global climate change. This is reflected both in state and local climate plans around the U.S. and in targets set by international governments.

Transportation GHG emissions are a result of what CCAP refers to as the “three-legged stool” – vehicles, fuels and travel demand as measured in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Most climate policy proposals to date have focused on vehicles and fuels, with little serious attention to managing VMT. 

Recent CCAP analysis illustrates that meeting long-term climate protection goals will require significant progress on all three legs of the stool. Some government transportation officials have proposed a fourth leg of the stool that addresses system efficiency, such as traffic flow smoothing and logistics enhancements.

Growth in driving is projected to offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings from the new CAFE standards and low-GHG fuel requirements in the 2007 Energy Bill. Even under a 2030 scenario with 55 mpg cars and fuels with 15 percent lower GHG intensity, then GHGs from passenger vehicles would be 14 percent below 1990 levels, given current VMT growth projections. To be on track to economy-wide GHG emissions levels 60-80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, would require 2030 GHG emissions to be some 20-47 percent below 1990 levels.

Further information about the Transportation and Climate Change Program, its partners and stakeholders and the program's goals and objectives.

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CCAP and AASHTO host the Executive Peer Exchange on State Transportation and Climate Change

Click here to view CCAP's posts on the National Journal Transportation blog.

NEW STUDY! Click here to view Cost-Effective GHG Reductions through Smart Growth & Improved Transportation Choices: An economic case for strategic investment of cap-and-trade revenues

Click here to access CCAP's Transportation Emissions Guidebook.

Read about CCAP's past work with its Freight Solutions Dialogue here.