Environmental leapfrogging: Paths and strategies to decarbonise transport in Ethiopia

IF 3.8 Q2 TRANSPORTATION
Mulugeta Getu Sisay
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Abstract

Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger transportation are increasing worldwide and especially in developing countries (DCs). Maintaining a conventional approach to transportation, which is resource-intensive and environmentally damaging, and pursuing incremental emission reductions is no longer sufficient to achieve sustainable transport in DCs. Thus, in developing countries, incremental transport decarbonisation strategies, often based on regulation of the automotive sector, cannot address the complexity of transport emissions and meet the ever-growing demand for mobility. Transport systems in developing countries are not yet tied to a carbon-intensive and car-centric system, but the trend is increasingly moving in this direction. This offers the possibility of “environmental leapfrogging”, a path or process adopted by latecomers to surpass the carbon-intensive and car-centric paths pursued by others. Leapfrogging in the transport sector, defined in this paper as any low-carbon and locally relevant mode of transportation adopted by latecomers, is thus an alternative pathway for developing countries. Using Ethiopia as a case study and data obtained through document analysis, interviews and observation, this paper discusses the prospects of developing countries towards a sustainable low-carbon transportation system. The adoption of active and public transportation and the integration of transport networks are fundamental components of this system. Electric vehicles, commonly associated with leapfrogging, offer further potential in the medium to long term. However, several political, economic and institutional obstacles need to be overcome. This would require the development of clear strategies and instruments, the strengthening of the institutional framework and expanding levellers (such as knowledge and innovation centers and local enterprsies).
环境跨越:埃塞俄比亚脱碳运输的路径和战略
在世界范围内,特别是在发展中国家,客运产生的二氧化碳排放量正在增加。维持资源密集型和破坏环境的传统交通方式,并追求逐步减少排放,已不足以实现发展中国家的可持续交通。因此,在发展中国家,通常基于汽车行业监管的渐进式交通脱碳战略无法解决交通排放的复杂性,也无法满足日益增长的出行需求。发展中国家的交通运输系统尚未与碳密集型和以汽车为中心的系统联系在一起,但趋势正日益朝这个方向发展。这提供了“环境跨越式发展”的可能性,即后发国家采用的一种途径或过程,以超越其他国家所追求的碳密集型和以汽车为中心的道路。因此,运输部门的跨越式发展,在本文中被定义为后发国家采用的任何低碳且适合当地的运输方式,是发展中国家的另一种途径。本文以埃塞俄比亚为例,通过文献分析、访谈和观察获得数据,讨论了发展中国家实现可持续低碳交通系统的前景。主动和公共交通的采用以及交通网络的整合是这个系统的基本组成部分。通常与跨越式发展联系在一起的电动汽车,在中长期内提供了进一步的潜力。但是,需要克服若干政治、经济和体制障碍。这将需要制订明确的战略和手段,加强体制框架和扩大平衡者(例如知识和创新中心和地方企业)。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives Engineering-Automotive Engineering
CiteScore
12.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
185
审稿时长
22 weeks
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