Transport / Urban public transport

While technological and operational improvements that reduce GHG emissions are beneficial to public transport operators in the form of operational cost savings (including fuel), this aspect is largely ignored due partly to the lack of tools and methodologies. Many existing tools for assessing the GHG impacts of public transport operations are too complex for regular use by public transport managers, or are not made aware on their existence. Incentives are lacking for public transport operators to adopt such tools. Support from development agencies, governments and climate finance instruments are also held back by the lack of a reliable framework for the measurement of CO2 emissions as well as other local co-benefits in sustainable public transport systems. The challenge is often exacerbated by the absence of regulatory measures at various levels of government, e.g. on fuel efficiency and operational standards for public transport operators.

This subproject aims to plug this significant gap, and develop a methodology and associated calculation tool for assessing GHG and local environmental impacts of urban bus operations. The subproject will build on existing methodologies (including the TEEMP models on BRT, eco-driving etc) and improve their accuracy, user-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. The developed model will be piloted in four Asian cities. An important aspect of the project will be to strengthen the complementarities with existing methodologies for related modes, especially BRT, which often falls under the same operator or regulator and is also close to conventional buses in their technical and to some extent, operational characteristics. The findings made through the development of the methodology will thus be used to further refine existing tools in related areas, especially the BRT and eco-driving modules of TEEMP. The results will be disseminated through workshops, a manual, and online resources.

The uptake of such a methodology, and thereby the mainstreaming of climate change considerations by public transport operators depends heavily on the perceived and actual benefits that can accrue to the operators. As a way to develop such incentives, the subproject also aims to develop a recognition program for operators who adopt the methodology, coupled with support for the formulation of business plans/processes and financing plans.

Experience from other parts of the world have shown that the development of methodologies to benchmark operational performance of public transport, in conjunction with programs that reward best practice, have been effective in motivating change. One example is the International Bus Benchmarking Group, which is a group of 13 bus organizations mainly from Europe, North America and Australia, set up to audit their relative performance and share best practices in reducing operational costs and improving service performance. This subproject aims to facilitate such changes for public transport operators in Asia and the Pacific.

1. Methodology to assess GHG emission impact and associated local co-benefits from public transport systems

2. Policy recommendations to overcome policy, technical, financial, institutional and other barriers

3. Recognition program and systems monitoring framework

4. Financing plans

5. Outreach sessions