Governance and policy challenges of implementing urban low-carbon transport initiatives.

Tait, Elizabeth; Laing, Richard; Gray, David

Abstract

Emissions from transport represent a quarter of Scotlands total. Action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport has been criticized for being limited, poorly integrated with other areas of policy, and focused on narrow programmes. Several funding bodies at the European level provide funding for the development of pilot initiatives to reduce carbon and to promote knowledge exchange between partner cities. Cities where strategies have been successful consider transport as being a significant part of wider urban design and urban development, thus ensuring that the potential benefits are directly related to concerns of planning, housing and behavioural change. Through research into the experience of one local authority in a European project, this paper finds that governance, cultural, economic and policy barriers inhibit the successful implementation of low carbon transport initiatives. This paper concludes that, despite these challenges, there is still value for local authorities to engage in projects that fund pilot carbon reduction initiatives and promote knowledge exchange.

Citation

TAIT, E., LAING, R. and GRAY, D. 2014. Governance and policy challenges of implementing urban low-carbon transport initiatives. Local economy [online], 29(1-2), pages 129-140. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094214521980

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 31, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jan 31, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 19, 2015
• Journal: Local economy
• Print ISSN: 0269-0942
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-9325
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 129-140
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094214521980
• Keywords: Local authorities; Sustainable transport; Public policy; Low carbon; Knowledge exchange
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1148
• Contract Date: Feb 19, 2015