Now Available: U.S. DOT Report on Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (May 13, 2010)
On Earth Day 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released its Report to Congress on the role of transportation in reducing U.S. greenhouse gases. Cambridge Systematics, Inc. is pleased to have served as the lead consultant to the DOT on the preparation of this report, which provides background on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, inventories and projections of transportation GHG emissions, and a detailed examination of potential ways to reduce these emissions.
“Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change is one of the great challenges of our time,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a DOT press release issued April 22. “Transportation is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gasses, and the transportation sector must be a big part of the solution. This report provides valuable information that will help us in our effort to protect the environment.”
“We are pleased to have worked in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation in preparing this seminal Report to Congress,” said Lance Neumann, President of Cambridge Systematics, Inc. “As our country works to reduce GHG emissions, having solid information about the potential effectiveness of a range of possible strategies is critical. We at Cambridge Systematics are pleased to lend our expertise to responding to this important challenge.”
Report Analyzes Full Range of Strategies
Strategies examined include economy-wide market-based strategies such as using low-carbon fuels, increasing vehicle fuel economy, improving system efficiency, and reducing travel that involves high levels of carbon emissions. The study includes an analysis of the relative effectiveness and costs of these different strategies, as well as other feasibility considerations. The study covers all transportation sectors and modes, including on-road passenger and freight, rail, marine, and aviation.
The report also discusses policy options for implementing these strategies, such as efficiency standards, transportation planning and investment, market-based incentives, research and development, and economy-wide carbon policies.
Cambridge Systematics was assisted on this report by representatives from ERG, Energy and Environment Research Associates, PB Americas, and Parsons Brinckerhoff, as well as individual consultants Ian Waitz, Christopher Frey, and James Shrouds.
How To Obtain the Report
The report, Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It is available on the Internet at http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/32000/32700/32779/DOT_Climate_Change_Report_-_April_2010_-_Volume_1_and_2.pdf.
About Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
Cambridge Systematics specializes in transportation and is a recognized leader in the development and implementation of innovative policy and planning solutions, objective analysis and technology applications. Further information can be found at www.camsys.com.
For additional information, contact Joanne R. Potter, Principal at (301) 347-0100.