Transport accounts for21% of global carbon emissions.
It is now the largest emitting sector in many developed countries.
Highly ambitious policies could cut these emissionsby 70% but not to zero.
Any technological advances in decarbonising transport would simply be more than offset by increased demand for mobility.
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But this is hard to do.
Some of the more promising options, such asroad-space reallocationand higher fossil fuel taxes have met resistance.
Substituting oil with low carbon fuels, such as electricity, will drastically reduce emissions by 2050.
We are too obsessed with electric cars
TheCOP26 presidency programmefocuses entirely on road-transport electrification.
Yet life-cycle emissions from electric vehicles depend heavily on the kind of electricity, battery and materials used.
Electric cars do not solve problems of road traffic congestion, safety and other issues ofcar dependency.
Electric plane batteries simply cant store enough power while remaining light enough.
Ships last for decades and run largely on the most polluting jot down of fossil diesel.
Electrification is not a viable option.
As with aviation, ships operate in a global market so are difficult to govern and regulate.
A20% reduction in ship speeds can save about 24% of CO2.
We are locked into bad habits
Many developed countries are firmly locked into high-carboninfrastructuresandlifestyles.
Most modern cities have been built to serve cars, not people.
The necessary roads, parking lots, driveways are set to last decades.
This will need investment and political will.
Major funding for new road-building programmes should be reallocated to fund high-quality,zero-emission public transportandactive travel.
Thats the easy part.
Political will and leadership in the face of uncertainty and initial resistance to change is harder to find.
