Decoupling the Environmental Impacts of Transport from Economic Growth

Decoupling the Environmental Impacts of Transport from Economic Growth You do not have access to this content

Authors:
OECD
Publication Date :
20 Oct 2006
Pages :
113
ISBN :
9789264027138 (PDF) ; 9789264027121 (print)
DOI :
10.1787/9789264027138-en

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Transport activity continues to cause large adverse impacts on the environment, human health and the economy. But is a negative impact of transport on the environment a necessary consequence of economic growth? This book illustrates that decoupling the environmental impacts of transport from economic growth is achievable, through the efficient use of charges, fees, taxes and other economic instruments. These economic approaches can complement regulatory measures to encourage a shift towards more environmentally-friendly modes of transport, such as from road to certain forms of rail transport. Other factors which could help to decouple transport impacts from economic growth are improvements in freight transport logistics, and dematerialisation.
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Also available in: French

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  • Mark
  • Executive Summary
    This report presents the results of a project that was begun by the OECD Working Group on Transport in 2002. The overall objective of the project is to help OECD member countries develop efficient and effective policies for decoupling the environmental impacts of transport from economic growth. Where it can be achieved, efficient decoupling will contribute to more sustainable transport patterns.
  • Introduction
    Decoupling environmental pressures from economic growth is one of the main objectives of the OECD Environmental Strategy for the First Decade of the 21st Century, adopted by OECD Environment Ministers in 2001.
  • Transport and the Economy
    This chapter begins with a discussion of the general links between transport and economic activity. The factors influencing transport demand are analysed in the second section. The chapter then focuses on recent trends in passenger and freight transport. The responses of transport to economic changes are analysed in the section dealing with elasticities. The relation between growth in transport infrastructure and economic growth in general is analysed in the last two parts of the chapter.
  • Transport and the Environment
    This chapter begins with a discussion of transport’s externalities (accidents; air pollution; climate change; noise; nature, landscape and urban effects). An overview of transport externalities in Europe is presented in the second section. The chapter then focuses on recent trends in energy consumption in the transport sector together with CO2 and CO emissions.
  • Decoupling Indicators
    This chapter begins with a discussion of the economic indicators of transport versus GDP. In the second section the analysis focuses on the environmental impacts of transport versus GDP.
  • Policy Instruments for Decoupling
    This chapter begins with a general discussion of some of the generic approaches that are often advocated for promoting decoupling. The second section then focuses on the various policy instruments that are available to promote decoupling (economic instruments, regulatory instruments, investment instruments, institutional arrangements, educational instruments and "soft" measures), focussing on what each of these approaches might bring to the policy "table".
  • National Case Studies
    This chapter presents the main findings of the national case studies on decoupling from Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden. In addition to these studies, two further specific approaches to decoupling are also analysed – from Switzerland (on the Swiss Heavy Goods Vehicle Fee) and from the UK (on congestion charging in London).
  • Conclusion
    Table 7.1 presents a summary of the main results of the analysis of instruments that were found, throughout the course of this project, to be the most promising approaches for decoupling the environmental impacts of transport from economic growth. It is partially derived from inputs received during several expert meetings, held in connection with the project since 2002 (2-3 workshops per year). Several smaller working group meetings were also held in connection with Phase 2 of the project, notably in Austria and Japan.
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