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CDM in the Transportation Sector:
"Rolling Along" in Chile

Latest News from the Project The full length English version of the Final Report, entitled "Getting on Track: Finding a Path for Transportation in the CDM" is now available. The Executive Summary of "Getting on Track" is also available.

Project Activities

• Release of the final report: "Getting on Track: Finding a Path for Transportation in the CDM"
  The activities of the project concluded in December, 2004 with the final Steering Committee meeting and presentation of draft conclusions and results. The results from three case studies and analysis of the transportation sector status under CDM have been presented in the final report of the project, "Getting on Track".
  
  The report presents synthesis findings from three case studies:
  
  Bicycle Initiatives: examines the possible greenhouse gas reductions for non-motorized transport (e.g., bike lanes, protected bike parking, bicycle promotion, etc.) under the CDM.
  
  Bus: assesses how a potential switch to cleaner public transit options (e.g., hybrid diesel-electric buses) in the Santiago region, with its consequent associated emission reductions, may be developed as a CDM project
  
  Location Efficiency: analyzes the emission implications of locating urban activities, such as housing, shopping and entertainment, within close proximity of new metro stations in Santiago de Chile, and how the environmental implications of this type of development could be pursued as a project under the CDM.
  
  A Spanish version of the final report will be available soon.

• International Workshop and Seminar
  An international workshop on Transportation and CDM was held in Santiago, Chile, between August 25 and 27, 2004. The workshop:

  • presented findings and conclusions from activities undertaken as part of the project, highlighting opportunities for emissions reductions from changes in transportation in Santiago;

  • provided a venue to gather input and feedback on draft conclusions for the project's final report;

  • brought together international stakeholders to present the innovative work underway in Chile; and

  • enabled Chileans to learn about pioneering activities in the area of CDM and transport taking place in other parts of the world.

  A workshop summary (49 kb) and the presentations from the international seminar are available for download. Funding for this workshop was provided by Canada's CDM/JI office and the Corporación Andina de Fomento.

• Project Brochures

  • May 2004 – Pre-workshop brochure
  • December 2004 – Highlighting project conclusions

Project Background

• Transportation and CDM
  The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) presents a crucial opportunity for developing countries, including Chile, to develop a sustainable transportation sector while at the same time increasing funding flows, enhancing capacity and expanding technology transfer opportunities. It is critical for Chile and other countries to have in place the technical and institutional capacity to develop, review and approve CDM projects in a systematic manner; assess and remove barriers to project implementation; and market its project opportunities effectively.

  According to the Pew Center report, titled Transportation in Developing Countries: Greenhouse Gas Scenarios for Chile", the transportation sector is the largest source of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Chile. In 1994, 36 per cent of Chile's total CO₂ emissions from energy consumption came from the transportation sector. By 2020, this sector's CO₂ emissions could increase by a factor of four if mitigation measures are not taken.

• The CDM and Transportation in Santiago, Chile
  Through its emphasis on capacity building and groundbreaking analysis of methods for structuring and implementing CDM projects in the transportation sector, this project is provided useful lessons for other developing countries that wish to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and participate in the CDM.

  This project's aim was to:

  • build the institutional capacity of Chile's National Environment Commission (CONAMA), Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINVU) and Ministry of Public Works, Communicaton and Transportation (MOPPT) to develop, evaluate and facilitate CDM projects and policies in the transportation sector;

  • work with other organizations in Chile such as: TranSantiago, el Plan de Transporte Urbano de Santiago (TranSantiago), the Executive Secretary to the Interministerial Committee for Transportation Investments (SECTRA), the National Commission for Transit Safety (CONASET) and the Land Use and Transportation Laboratory at the University of Chile (LABTUS) to integrate the concepts of carbon reduction and opportunities through the carbon market into their transportation-related planning processes;

  • support the technical capacity of transportation modelers and land-use planners in Chile's government, academia and private sector to identify CDM projects and their benefits;

  • develop methods for structuring CDM projects in the transportation sector, establishing project baselines and measuring and monitoring the project results; and

  • engage transportation stakeholders in Santiago in dialogue on the analytical findings of the study and their potential role in the CDM and other emissions reduction initiatives.

Project Objectives

As part of our initiative, the project:

• analyzed Santiago's transportation sector and potential CDM opportunities;

• conducted a series of workshops and study tours for information exchange and sharing with our Chilean Stakeholders;

• tackled the challenges of baseline and additionality associated with the transport sector;

• developed new and innovative options for CDM and transportation methodologies through the development of three case studies; and

• disseminated lessons learned and opportunities explored with a wide audience at an international workshop and seminar in 2004.

Outputs and Information

• Project Resources
  A number of draft presentations, reports and documents in Spanish and English are available at the project's Document Centre.

• External Resources
  A comprehensive list of links on related topics of the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Development Mechanism and emission reductions in transportation can be found by visiting Useful Transport and CDM related links

Partners

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) undertook this project in conjunction with Climate Change and Development Consultants (CC&D) in Chile and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) in Washington, D.C., to build Chile's capacity to apply the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as an effective clean investment tool in the transportation sector.

Funding for this initiative was being provided by the Canadian International Development Agency's Canada Climate Change Development Fund.

Contact Information

Questions and comments about the material on this site can be directed to:

• Jo-Ellen Parry
  International Institute for Sustainable Development
  E-mail: jparry@iisd.ca
  Phone: +1 (204) 958-7722

Or from our project partners:

• Steve Winkelman
  Center for Clean Air Policy
  E-mail: swinkelman@ccap.org
  
  
• Eduardo Sanhueza
  Cambio Climatico & Desarollo
  E-mail:j.sanhueza@mi.cl