Transportation is a basic human need. As our cities evolve and grow, our dependence on transportation increases. The transport sector accounts for 24% of the energy consumed by all the sectors in the country (TEDDY, 2018). It is also one of the fastest growing sectors. As our economy grows and incomes increase, the demand for transport is set to increase too. It is important that this increased demand is met with a clean and sustainable transport supply. The right policy interventions can help create a transport sector that can cater to the demands of its consumers while being environmentally sustainable.
India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions lay emphasis on safe, smart and sustainable green transport as key means of limiting greenhouse gas emissions in India. Greening the transport sector requires policy interventions that support clean fuels, mass transit and non-motorised modes of transport as the key drivers of change.
87%
of transport sector emissions come from road transport
Source: TEDDY, 2018
14%
of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2010 came from transport
Source: Low Carbon Transport in India
95%
of the Indian transport sector’s demand for fuel is met by petroleum-based derivatives
Source: Shakti report
Indian cities are increasingly in the thrall of air pollution and road congestion. This trend will continue to see an upward spike as the number of vehicles on our roads’ increases. The combustion of fuels used in vehicles is a major contributing factor to pollution. This pollution is attributable both to the rise of private vehicle ownership and the increased use of road-based freight transport. Countering it with increased use of public transport systems, greater land-use planning and the adoption of vehicles and modes of transport that use cleaner and more efficient fuels can not only reduce congestion but also cut down air pollution drastically.
Our work at Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation focuses on reducing emissions from road-based transport, which accounts for the highest share of emissions in the sector. We facilitate interventions in the transport sector by supporting the design and implementation of policies for better transport in cities, improved vehicle and fuel efficiency and energy efficient freight, and by supporting research that can accelerate the electric mobility transition in India.
Vehicles form the backbone of transport systems. Various modes of mobility exist to cater to the ever increasing demand in countries…
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