EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 4. Sustainable Mobility Transformation Framing and Thinking The new framing is represented in transport by moves from the low-carbon approach to the comprehensive sustainability approach in the ASI framework: avoid- shift-improve. A fundamental change has occurred in the framing of and thinking on climate policy globally. This has evolved from focusing on short-term mitigation, by technical efficiency, to long-term transition and transformation, by systemic and structural change. Achieving sustainable mobility requires a similar transformation, along with the wider organisational and policy systems that the transport sector depends on, notably integrated spatial and transport planning. Figure 11.4  The hierarchy of transport sustainability in the avoid-shift-improve framework (Source: EPA, adapted from EEA, 2016) Spatial planning n compact development n demand management Transport planning n integrate active modes of walking and cycling n integrate public transport modes of rail and bus Engineering n energy efficiency by vehicle and engine design n carbon efficiency by alternative vehicles and fuels Decision Hierarchy Sustainability Avoid Avoid and reduce the need for travel Shift Shift to sustainable modes Improve Improve efficiency The IPCC has noted the rise in global transport greenhouse gas emissions, despite efficiency, as transport activity has increased, while becoming more individual and motorised. The new framing is represented in transport by moves from the low-carbon approach to the comprehensive sustainability approach in the ASI framework (Devaney and Torney, 2019). This approach involves moving through a hierarchy of actions: avoid ’ – avoiding journeys where possible, through innovative spatial planning, compact development and demand management; shift – shifting mode to the more sustainable modes of walking, cycling and public transport; and lastly improve – improving the energy and carbon efficiency of vehicles, including improved designs, choosing smaller vehicles, and switching to alternative powertrains and renewable fuels. This hierarchy is illustrated in Figure 11.4. The approach is now a standard, 9 and is recognised by the IPCC, the EEA and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s International Transport Forum. More recently, in the Irish context, it has been recognised by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC, 2019a) and the National Economic and Social Council (Devaney and Torney, 2019). 9 Behavioural and social practice-based measures can be used to support ‘avoid’ demand management, and to encourage mode ‘shift’, where supporting systems and infrastructure are made available. Such measures can also be employed at the level of ‘improve’, to influence factors such as vehicle purchase and driving style. 290