Regional: Implementation of Sustainable Transport in Asia and the Pacific - New Approaches to Implement Sustainable Low Carbon Transport in the Asia and Pacific Region (Subproject 5)

Transport - Multimodal logistics - Transport policies and institutional development - Urban public transport - Urban roads and traffic management

In Asian cities, rapid urbanization and the rising incomes are leading to a doubling of the motor fleet every 5-7 years. The uncontrolled growth in motorized traffic is resulting in a rapid growth in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Transport presently contributes a quarter of the world's energy-related CO2 emissions and this share is expected to grow. The developing member countries (DMCs) across the region are currently developing strategies to address the sector's emissions. However, these are in their early stages. Hence, there is a growing and urgent need for ADB to increase support for sustainable low carbon transport in Asian cities and countries.

The impact of this subproject is improved sustainable low carbon transport systems in DMCs. The key outcome of the project is the improved knowledge and capacity of relevant government agencies in the DMCs to develop and implement low carbon transport systems in urban transport, railways, inland waterways and freight and logistics, and to mobilize carbon finance for such projects.

Subsectors to be covered include urban transport (including transportation demand management, public transport as well as nonmotorized transport), intercity railways, inland waterways and green freight and logistics. These collectively cover the core priority areas of STI-OP. Geographically, the subproject will aim to cover every region of Asia and the Pacific, by working closely with operational departments to identify key countries and cities where firm opportunities for interventions are existent.

The TA will help promote modes of transport which have low CO2 emissions and local emissions, by conceptualizing and developing opportunities for future investments and policy interventions. The growing CO2 emissions from transport in Asia as well as the local air pollution in Asian cities are serious development issues which can be tackled through the development of low carbon modes of transport which will shift people away from the polluting modes to cleaner forms of transport.

The subproject follows the regional TA on Implementation of Asian City Transport (TA 7243), which supported policy and pilot project development for selected cities (Kathmandu, Vientiane and Davao) and knowledge development and dissemination for promotion of sustainable, low carbon transport in DMCs. This subproject will expand the coverage, both in terms of subsectors as well as geography, to further scale up the implementation of sustainable low carbon transport.

Low carbon transport projects and policies typically require specific expertise and additional resources as they tend to be more complex, lacking in knowledge/capacity and therefore, higher in terms of risk. This subproject is designed to overcome such risks and scale up the implementation of low carbon transport projects and policies by (i) strengthening capacity of transport institutions and agencies, (ii) undertaking feasibility studies for low carbon transport projects, and (iii) exploring carbon financing and other forms of innovative funding opportunities to support DMCs.

(i) Conducted workshops and training sessions on developing low carbon transport including the biennial Transport Forum.

(ii) Asian Sustainable Transport and Urban Development Program (ASTUD) - This knowledge sharing component provided a mechanism for raising awareness of options and integrated approaches to energy efficient low-carbon transport and urban systems.

(iii) Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in the transport sector - (a) strengthened the capacity of DMCs to identify, develop and implement transport NAMAs, (b) explored carbon financing and other innovative funding opportunities as well as traditional funding such as loans and grants to support transport NAMAs submitted by DMCs to UNFCCC, and (c) conducted capacity training workshops.

(iv) Prepared concept plan for public transport services along Manila''s EDSA corridor in the short term and for other possible mass transit services along the corridor in the long term. This study could possibly be utilized as a guide for potential future investment priorities in urban public transport for the Philippine Government.

(v) Supported the government of the PRC and China Railway Corporation in developing a roadmap for energy efficiency development of the railway sector in the PRC.

(vi) Produced a policy and action plan containing recommendations for Beijing Municipal Government on policies and measures to increase the share of bicycling in Beijing.

(vii) Developed a conceptual study on Karachi Bus Rapid Transit Project

(viii) Reviewed the design and implementation of green freight and logistics projects in developing countries and setting up recognition programs providing incentives to improve supply chain efficiency

(ix) Conducted a study to determine the initial feasibility of utilizing biomethane as an alternative fuel for operating BRT vehicles in Baku and Karachi.

Recommendations for improvements to national and local policies based on review of existing low carbon transport policies

Workshops and training sessions for capacity building of national and local governments and line

agencies

Conceptual project and program plans for developing low carbon transport in each participating city and country

Greater contribution of carbon finance in financing climate change mitigation transport projects