Abstract
Notwithstanding its overall importance, the United Nations (UN) climate change regime has so far played a limited role in driving sectoral transformations towards climate neutrality. However, the challenges and opportunities for sectoral transformations, as well as the need for, and potential of, international governance, differ across varying sectoral systems. Land transport is a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, and one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise. Emissions from the land transport sector are projected to rise, with almost all transport activity continuing to rely on fossil-fuel powered internal combustion engines.
Against this background, this paper assesses the extent to which international governance can help promote the transformation towards sustainability and decarbonisation in the land transport sector. It first identifies the key challenges and barriers to sectoral decarbonisation in land transport, as well as any unexploited potentials. The paper then examines the potential of existing international and transnational institutions (including both intergovernmental forums such as the UN climate regime and transnational governance arrangements such as the SLoCaT Partnership) by mapping them against six key governance functions, namely: (1) guidance and signal, (2) rules and standards, (3) transparency and accountability, (4) means of implementation (5) knowledge and learning, and (6) orchestration. The paper accordingly analyses the existing governance landscape to identify to what extent current institutions have been exploiting these governance potentials.
The paper finds that the overall international governance potential in the area of sustainable mobility remains underexploited. For example, the potential for providing transparency and accountability has only been exploited in some respects. The UN climate regime pays little attention to sector-specific developments, despite its comprehensive reporting obligations. Moreover, transport-specific tracking frameworks from other institutions are voluntary in nature and do not track the extent to which national public transport spending supports high or low emission pathways. The paper therefore explores how international governance may be enhanced in the land transport sector. Specifically, the paper will explore the potential of a transformational climate club focused on electric mobility to bridge some of the governance gaps. The paper draws on a review of available policy documents (including outputs from relevant international and transnational institutions), as well as secondary literature. The findings from this review are complemented by sectoral stakeholder interviews to identify options for institutional reform and the prospects of a climate club in the land transport sector
Against this background, this paper assesses the extent to which international governance can help promote the transformation towards sustainability and decarbonisation in the land transport sector. It first identifies the key challenges and barriers to sectoral decarbonisation in land transport, as well as any unexploited potentials. The paper then examines the potential of existing international and transnational institutions (including both intergovernmental forums such as the UN climate regime and transnational governance arrangements such as the SLoCaT Partnership) by mapping them against six key governance functions, namely: (1) guidance and signal, (2) rules and standards, (3) transparency and accountability, (4) means of implementation (5) knowledge and learning, and (6) orchestration. The paper accordingly analyses the existing governance landscape to identify to what extent current institutions have been exploiting these governance potentials.
The paper finds that the overall international governance potential in the area of sustainable mobility remains underexploited. For example, the potential for providing transparency and accountability has only been exploited in some respects. The UN climate regime pays little attention to sector-specific developments, despite its comprehensive reporting obligations. Moreover, transport-specific tracking frameworks from other institutions are voluntary in nature and do not track the extent to which national public transport spending supports high or low emission pathways. The paper therefore explores how international governance may be enhanced in the land transport sector. Specifically, the paper will explore the potential of a transformational climate club focused on electric mobility to bridge some of the governance gaps. The paper draws on a review of available policy documents (including outputs from relevant international and transnational institutions), as well as secondary literature. The findings from this review are complemented by sectoral stakeholder interviews to identify options for institutional reform and the prospects of a climate club in the land transport sector
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2022 |
| Event | 2022 Toronto Conference on Earth System Governance: Governing accelerated transitions: justice, creativity, and power in a transforming world - Toronto, Canada Duration: 20 Oct 2022 → 24 Oct 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | 2022 Toronto Conference on Earth System Governance |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Canada |
| City | Toronto |
| Period | 20/10/22 → 24/10/22 |
