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Climate Change and Transportation

Climate Change and Transportation. IBTTA Board of Directors Meeting January 22, 2009 Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Leslie Bellas General Counsel and Dir. Environmental Affairs. “Come and Begin to Understand Where Our World is Headed”. Warmer temperatures. Increased precipitation.

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Climate Change and Transportation

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  1. Climate Change and Transportation IBTTA Board of Directors Meeting January 22, 2009 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Leslie Bellas General Counsel and Dir. Environmental Affairs

  2. “Come and Begin to Understand Where Our World is Headed” Warmer temperatures Increased precipitation

  3. “Come and Begin to Understand Where Our World is Headed” Melting glaciers Changing sea level

  4. What Causes Climate Change?

  5. Houston, We Have a Problem

  6. Think Globally

  7. U.S. CO2 Emission Sources

  8. Transportation’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reference: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006, USEPA #430-R-08-005l

  9. More People

  10. More Cars

  11. We Love BIG Cars!

  12. Bigger Cars = Less Fuel Economy

  13. Emissions from the Transportation Sector • Four-legged stool: • Fuel Economy: 2007 legislation raising CAFÉ • Fuel Content: Renewable Fuels in the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 • Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): No legislation • Traffic Operations/Driving Behavior: No legislation • Reducing congestion or idling and/or maintaining traffic flow between 30-60 MPH will decrease fuel consumption and may lower VMT

  14. Déjà Vu? • Who said: • “I am inaugurating a program to marshal both government and private research with the goal of producing an unconventially powered, virtually pollution-free automobile within five years.” • Richard M. Nixon, 1970

  15. The First Rule of Holes: When You Have a Hole, Stop Digging! • Climate is changing • Human activities are a contributing factor • Everyone is to blame • The transportation sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions • We acknowledged the need to take action • We haven’t changed our behavior

  16. What Do We Want? Action!When Do We Want It? Yesterday! Reversing our course will occur at a glacial pace GHG don’t stop at the border

  17. Why Now is the Time to Begin Addressing Climate Change • Perfect Storm • Recognition we are prisoners of oil • Science is proving the existence of climate change and science will help us find an answer • Market driven solutions • Most nations, including the United States, acknowledge the need to tackle climate change • We had our first serious debate on climate change • The Administration wants to address climate change

  18. Will National Climate Change Legislation Be Our Savior This Congress? • “It’s the economy, stupid!” • Climate change is costly • New energy sources • Need to change process/operations • Administrative burdens from compliance obligations

  19. What’s Left for IBTTA to Do? • Administration: • Identify the Administration’s priorities • Figure out how tolling and congestion pricing can help the Administration achieve its objectives • Federal Agencies: There are more agencies than DOT • U.S. EPA • U.S. DOE • U.S. DOT • DHS/FEMA

  20. What’s Left for IBTTA to Do (cont’d)? • Regions: • Climate exchanges • States: • Climate action plans • State agencies/MPO programs • Build alliances • Fellow trade associations Communications • Environmental Investment/Banks • Infrastructure Energy • IT Land use

  21. What’s Left for IBTTA to Do (cont’d)? • Take a leadership role in key areas • Funding transportation/climate impacts • How tolling can help other acceptable interests, e.g., fund transit/research/ensure equity • Tolling projects as part of federal or state climate change legislation (offsets) • Consider impact of new projects on climate • Consider how your facilities can help measure emissions

  22. Thank You Intelligent Transportation Society of America www.itsa.org Leslie Bellas lbellas@itsa.org 202-721-4239

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