Cities: Cap Transportation

Posted by Eric de Place

05/19/2008 07:25 PM

Local governments tackle a big problem.

If I sound like a broken record, it's only because I'm obsessed.

Putting a firm, enforceable, and declining cap on transportation carbon may be the single most important climate policy now before the Western Climate Initiative. But what's remarkable -- almost astonishing -- is the chorus that supports putting a cap on the transportation sector. There's essentially unanimity among public interest groups, a surprisingly deep bench of support from business and utilities, and a growing movement from local government.

As a local, I'm proud to say that Seattle's Mayor Greg Nickels was among the first to stake out a public position in favor of a comprehensive carbon cap for WCI.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, who oversees transportation policy for Portland, has also come out in support. Also in Oregon, Douglas County commissioner Joseph Laurance is on board with a comprehensive economy-wide cap.
In Utah, now you can add Salt Lake City's mayor, Ralph Becker, and Salt Lake County's chief, Peter Corron to the list of folks who say that "all major sources of global warming pollution should be included." (Salt Lake City is hosting a big WCI meeting this week.) Plus Dave Sakrison, mayor of Moab, Utah. And Dana Williams, mayor of Park City, Utah.

Am I missing anyone? If so, send 'em my way and I'll post 'em up here.

It's not surprising that local governments want a cap on transportation emissions. A huge number of cities and counties have set responsible and sincere climate targets, but they mostly lack the authority to tackle the biggest emissions problem of them all -- transportation. If they're successful in urging WCI to step up to the plate, local governments have a real chance at making a big difference.

Who's next?

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Comments

Posted by morgan 05/20/2008 09:47 AM

From whom is the opposition/reluctance to capping transportation fuels coming?

Posted by Clark Williams-Derry 05/20/2008 12:23 PM

Morgan -- 3 sources (besides the usual anti-government-meddling crowd):

1) Oil companies who don't want their sales capped.
2) Politicians who are afraid of affecting gas prices.
3) A few jurisdictions who are worried about integrating the price signal of a cap with planned/hoped for tax increases on gasoline.

Posted by Chris Bradshaw 05/29/2008 08:34 AM

It makes sense, since cities are the scale at which the most wasteful transportation occurs. It is too large for walking and cycling; and it is too small a scale for the efficiencies of large networks. And so many daily commutes occur at that scale, which involve highway-ready cars with five seats on stop-and-go freeways with one occupant.

Slap a hugh fee on SOV use at peak hour; introduce carsharing-ridesharing hybrid to replace it; get serious about introducing main streets in suburbia and streetcars to service them; and free those who have to or want to use the 'alternatives'from the prison our private-car regime has created.

Chris