Transitioning to the Green Economy: The Arab Transport Sector Policy Brief

Transitioning to the Green Economy: The Arab Transport Sector Policy Brief

I. Kaysi F.B. Chaaban 

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Page: 
305–320
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.2495/SDP-V8-N3-305–320
Received: 
N/A
| |
Accepted: 
N/A
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

This paper highlights the existing policies, current practices, and major trends for the transport sector in Arab countries, and then discusses their current implications on development, social integration, and the environment and the need to adopt non-conventional approaches and measures to provide transport systems that promote sustainable development. The paper explores the potential of developing policies, incentive measures, and green strategies to promote innovative practices for the movement of people and goods, including public trans- port and, as a result, eliminate the negative impacts from the inappropriate practices nationwide. The paper also addresses establishing a green transport infrastructure network at the regional scale.

Keywords: 

Arab transport, environmental sustainability, green economy, green mobility, sustainable transport, transport policy

  References

[1] United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), Transport for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region: Measures, Progress Achieved, Challenges, and Policy Framework, United Nations: New York, 2009.

[2] Bongardt, D. & Schaltenberg, P., Transport in a Green Economy. GIZ Transport Policy Advi- sory Services, On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development: Germany, 2011.

[3] World Business Council for Sustainable development, Mobility 2030: meeting the challenges to sustainability. The sustainable mobility project, executive summary, 2004.

[4] Croitoru, L. & Sarraf, M., The Cost of environmental degradation: case studies from the Middle East and North Africa, The World Bank: Washington DC, 2010.

[5] The World Bank, Transport sector brief, available at http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/ EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/0,,contentMDK:20532420~pagePK:146736~piPK:2 26340~theSitePK:256299,00.html, 2010.

[6] Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), GHG emissions: mitigation efforts in the Arab countries. 2009.

[7] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Middle East Cleaner Fuels & Vehicles for Clean Air Policy Forum, United Nations Environment Programme: Cairo, 2010.

[8] Saudi Arabian General Investment Opportunities (SAGIA), Investment opportunities, available at http://www.sagia.gov.sa/en/Key-sectors/Transport-and-Logistics/Investment-opportunities/, 2010.

[9] AMEinfo, Egypt an excellent and attractive investment option, says Gulf finance house CEO, available at http://www.ameinfo.com/105092.html, 2006.

[10] Morgan, D., Investment opportunities driving Iraq’s transport sector. Global Arab Network, available at http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/200906181290/Economics/investment- opportunities-driving-iraqs-transport-sector.html, 2009.

[11] Zawya, Transport infrastructure faces new challenges, available at http://www.zawya.com/ story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100526044636, 2010.

[12] Zawya, Saudi Arabia’s GDP set to grow 4.5% in 2011, available at http://www.zawya.com/ story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110123030616, 2011.

[13] Zawya, Logistics to regain steam riding on strong demand, available at http://www.zawya.com/ story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100103050255, 2010.

[14] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Green Economy Report: A Preview, United Nations Environment Programme (Division of Technology, Industry and Economics): France, 2010.

[15] Davis, C., December 2006 monthly update: sustainable transport in the developing world. World Resources Institute, available at http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/135, 2007.

[16] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Towards a green economy pathways to sustainable development and poverty eradication. 2011.

[17] Rodrigue, J.P. & Comtois, C., The environmental impacts of transportation. The Geography of Transport System, 2nd ed., Routledge: New York, 2009.

[18] Air Quality Research Unit at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Saint Joseph Univer- sity (USJ), National Council of Scientific Research (NCSR), Workshop on air quality in Beirut: Beirut, 2011.

[19] Nasr, G.J., Green economy implications of the sustainable livelihood approach for sustainable development in the Arab region. 2010.

[20] EurActiv, Sustainable transport, available at http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/sustainable- transport/article-117545, 2007.

[21] Metschies G., Thielmann, S., & Wagner A., Removing fuel subsidies: clearing the road to sus- tainable development. Global Subsidies Initiative, available at http://www.globalsubsidies.org/en/ subsidy-watch/commentary/removing-fuel-subsidies-clearing-road-sustainable-development, 2008.

[22] Rietveld, P. & Stough, R., Institutions, regulations and sustainable transport: a cross-national perspective, 2004.

[23] Federal and State Incentives and Laws, US Department of Energy.

[24] PEW Center, Taking climate change into account in U.S. transportation. Pew Climate, available at http://www.pewclimate.org/policy_center/policy_reports_and_analysis/brief_us_transportation/ transp_carbon.cfm

[25] Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA), Retrofitting Emission Controls for Diesel-Powered Vehicles, Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association: Washington DC, 2009.

[26] Solid Waste and Recycling, Ford offers incentives for vehicle recycling, available at http:// www.solidwastemag.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000370722, 2010.

[27] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Submission on transport by the United Nations Environment Programme to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), 2009.

[28] The World Bank, Transport for health access, available at http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/ EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTTRANSPORT/EXTTSR/0,,contentMDK:20835940~menuPK:22 74762~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:463716,00.html, 2010.