Why does adopting sustainable mobility practices matter? Traffic’s contribution to harmful CO2 emissions worldwide will increase if nothing changes in our current mobility behavior. By 2050, the number of private cars will double and account for 33% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As such, municipalities in urban and rural areas must create sustainable infrastructures and develop strategies to reduce air pollution in cities and reverse adverse global climate change.
Sustainable mobility reduces air pollution and CO2 emissions by incorporating eco-friendly practices into urban planning and management. A city with a working sustainable mobility strategy supports equitable modes of transport, green spaces, and actions or technology that improves air quality and lowers carbon footprints.
How can we reduce air pollution levels in our cities?
As more organizations, public institutions, and government bodies recognize the costs of air pollution, smog, and their huge impact on the environment, more resources need to be funneled into developing strategies to reduce pollution in cities.
For example, the European Commission continuously reviews and improves the European air policy to substantially improve air quality and reduce emissions in the European Union. The United Nations has also called for international cooperation to reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change.
Both bodies recognize the need for a holistic and multisectoral approach. To reduce emissions in cities, the following are needed:
- Cooperation at an international level – cities must not act in silos, but instead coordinate with neighboring cities and be guided by international initiatives
- Setting new, relevant standards to define good air quality
- Improving technologies and promoting innovation in the transportation and energy industries
- A strong and consistent commitment to reduce emissions and promote sustainable economic growth
Through these combined elements, we can turn our imagined scenario of a sustainable urban paradise into a long-term reality.
A green technology to reduce air pollution: sustainable mobility
To improve air quality and public health, we need all hands on deck – in other words a holistic and multisectoral approach. The European Commission states that the transport sector is the main contributor to nitrogen oxide emissions. Over the past four decades, the EU has enforced several policies to regulate fuel quality and apply various levels of environmental protection requirements to the transport sector.
Its 2013 Clean Air for Europe program put in place air quality standards and set targets until 2030 to regulate several pollutants, including nitrogen oxide.
At PTV, we look for air quality solutions for cities from multiple angles. Calculating and forecasting air quality changes, developing traffic management software, and helping cities use data to make sustainable mobility decisions all contribute towards improving air quality.
According to Dr. Uwe Reiter, the Global Project Director at PTV, “An improvement of air quality means a reduction of emission of air pollutants, for example through less vehicle kilometres travelled, less and shorter trips, more trips by public transport and non-motorised modes, and also by more efficient and less polluting engines, including electric vehicles.”
But let’s not forget that air pollution ignores national borders and can be carried away by the wind. Consequently, air pollution control in cities should be handled at global levels, not just within one area alone. As members of the transportation sector, we must look at the different ways our current mobility systems contribute to poor air quality and strategically address that with more sustainable versions.
3 ways to reduce air pollution in cities with sustainable mobility
Smart cities are moving towards more sustainable and efficient urban ecosystems as a way to reduce air pollutants. These air pollution solutions comprise all aspects of city planning, including transportation, infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy.
Here are three ways to use sustainable mobility to reduce air pollution in cities.
#1 Analyze and forecast air pollution when doing urban mobility planning
In planning for change, the first step is to have a clear assessment of the current situation and make predictions based on simulations.
For those in the mobility sector, calculating emissions in traffic simulations helps to make sound decisions. For instance, PTV Vissim’s emission calculations from Bosch give you the data to track how traffic measures affect vehicle emissions.
Simulating and analyzing possible traffic measures is vital for implementing eco-optimized traffic management solutions that actively reduce air pollutants.
#2 Institute smart traffic management schemes
One of the best ways to integrate sustainable mobility processes into municipalities is to take advantage of smart traffic management schemes.
As an example, cities can reduce traffic congestion by monitoring the situation and intervening early with the traffic management software PTV Optima. Simulations from PTV Optima help to minimize travel time to avoid long detours and eliminate traffic jams before they arise, which helps cut emissions.
#3 Enable and promote eco-friendly mobility options
As people increasingly choose eco-friendly options in their local areas, municipalities must do their part in providing their citizens with these options. Choosing to be environmentally conscious shouldn’t sacrifice convenience and cost, and the way to do this is to enable and promote eco-friendly mobility options.
Here are some ways municipalities can reward eco-friendliness:
- Optimize EV charging networks to meet the rising demand for charging stations.
- Reallocate street space to cycling and walking to make way for more sustainable mobility options.
- Implement a gradual transition to electric buses to replace diesel buses. A gradual change in tandem with other measures is advisable since electric buses are expensive to purchase in fleets.
Dr. Uwe Reiter also states the additional combined benefits, “Apart from the main purpose of increasing air quality and reducing the impact on climate change, sustainable mobility will reduce noise from moving vehicles, will increase quality of live in our cities, will give children, the elderly and all other inhabitants their freedom to move back, to move safely, to meet friends, to linger and to enjoy the public urban spaces without pollution, noise, danger and aggression.”
Improve air quality in cities with a holistic sustainable mobility strategy
We’ve described many options for developing sustainable mobility initiatives that reduce air pollutants, but which of these options provides the best results? Well, it depends on the exact scenario. For example, while reducing emissions is necessary, negative consequences such as economic loss due to driving bans can arise. That’s why sustainable and efficient mobility strategies must consider both environmental and economic factors.
In order to find the best of both worlds, city governments and public institutions need a multi-dimensional and holistic approach that involves analyzing and evaluating possible measures in advance before choosing the right traffic management strategies.
If you need a helping hand here, PTV’s products give municipalities the right tools they need to analyze, forecast, and make decisions soundly and efficiently. Learn more about PTV’s products dedicated to improving air quality.
Kwa nini kupitisha mazoea ya uhamaji endelevu ni muhimu? """Mchangiaji wa trafiki kwa uzalishaji mbaya wa CO2 ulimwenguni kote utaongezeka ikiwa hakuna mabadiliko katika tabia yetu ya sasa ya usafiri." Kufikia mwaka 2050 idadi ya magari ya kibinafsi itazidi mara mbili na itasababisha asilimia 33 ya uzalishaji wa gesi za chafu duniani. Kwa hivyo, manispaa katika maeneo ya mijini na vijijini lazima ziunda miundombinu endelevu na kukuza mikakati ya kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa katika miji na kugeuza mabadiliko mabaya ya hali ya hewa ya ulimwengu. Uhamiaji endelevu hupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa na uzalishaji wa CO2 kwa kuingiza mazoea ya mazingira katika mipango na usimamizi wa mijini. Jiji lenye mkakati wa kusafiri endelevu unaofanya kazi inasaidia njia za usafiri wa haki, nafasi za kijani, na vitendo au teknolojia ambayo inaboresha ubora wa hewa na kupunguza alama za kaboni. Tunawezaje kupunguza viwango vya uchafuzi wa hewa katika miji yetu? Kwa kuwa mashirika mengi, taasisi za umma, na mashirika ya serikali yanatambua gharama za uchafuzi wa hewa, smog, na athari zao kubwa kwa mazingira, rasilimali zaidi zinahitaji kuelekezwa katika kuendeleza mikakati ya kupunguza uchafuzi katika miji. Kwa mfano, Tume ya Ulaya daima kuchunguza na kuboresha sera ya hewa ya Ulaya kwa kiasi kikubwa kuboresha ubora wa hewa na kupunguza uzalishaji katika Umoja wa Ulaya. Umoja wa Mataifa pia umeomba ushirikiano wa kimataifa ili kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa na kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Mashirika yote mawili yanatambua uhitaji wa mbinu ya jumla na ya sekta nyingi. "Kupunguza uzalishaji katika miji inahitajika: ushirikiano katika ngazi ya kimataifa - miji haipaswi kutenda katika silos, lakini badala yake kuratibu na miji jirani na kuongozwa na mipango ya kimataifa - kuweka viwango vipya, muhimu kuelezea ubora wa hewa nzuri - kuboresha teknolojia na kukuza ubunifu katika usafirishaji na sekta za nishati - kujitolea nguvu na thabiti kupunguza uzalishaji na kukuza ukuaji wa kiuchumi endelevu. "" - Alama ya Mkataba wa Paris." Teknolojia ya kijani kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa: uhamaji endelevu Ili kuboresha ubora wa hewa na afya ya umma, tunahitaji mikono yote kwenye deck - kwa maneno mengine mbinu ya jumla na ya sekta nyingi. Tume ya Ulaya inasema kwamba sekta ya usafiri ni mchangiaji mkuu wa uzalishaji wa oksidi ya nitrojeni. Katika miaka 40 iliyopita, EU imetekeleza sera kadhaa za kudhibiti ubora wa mafuta na kutekeleza viwango mbalimbali vya mahitaji ya ulinzi wa mazingira kwa sekta ya usafiri. Mpango wa Clean Air for Europe wa 2013 uliweka viwango vya ubora wa hewa na kuweka malengo hadi 2030 kudhibiti uchafuzi kadhaa, pamoja na oksidi ya nitrojeni. Katika PTV, tunatafuta suluhisho la ubora wa hewa kwa miji kutoka pembe nyingi. "Kuhesabu na kutabiri mabadiliko ya ubora wa hewa, kuendeleza programu ya usimamizi wa trafiki, na kusaidia miji kutumia data kufanya maamuzi ya usafiri endelevu - yote yanachangia kuboresha ubora wa hewa. """ "Uwe Reiter, Mkurugenzi wa Mradi wa Global katika PTV, alisema: ""Uboreshaji wa ubora wa hewa unamaanisha kupunguzwa kwa uzalishaji wa uchafuzi wa hewa, kwa mfano kupitia kilomita chache za magari zilizosafiri, safari fupi na fupi, safari zaidi kwa usafiri wa umma na njia zisizo na injini, na pia kwa injini zenye ufanisi zaidi na uchafuzi mdogo, pamoja na magari ya umeme." Kwa hiyo, udhibiti wa uchafuzi wa hewa katika miji inapaswa kushughulikiwa katika ngazi ya kimataifa, si tu ndani ya eneo moja tu. Kama wanachama wa sekta ya usafiri, lazima tuangalie njia tofauti ambazo mifumo yetu ya sasa ya uhamaji inachangia ubora mbaya wa hewa na kushughulikia kwa mkakati na matoleo endelevu zaidi. Njia tatu za kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa katika miji na usafiri endelevu Miji ya Smart inaelekea kwenye mifumo ya ikolojia ya mijini endelevu na yenye ufanisi zaidi kama njia ya kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa. Suluhisho hizi za uchafuzi wa hewa zinatia ndani mambo yote ya mipango ya jiji, kutia ndani usafiri, miundombinu, mawasiliano ya simu, na nishati. Hapa kuna njia tatu za kutumia uhamaji endelevu kupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa katika miji. # 1 Uchambuzi na utabiri wa uchafuzi wa hewa wakati wa kufanya mipango ya uhamaji wa mijini Katika mipango ya mabadiliko, hatua ya kwanza ni kuwa na tathmini ya wazi ya hali ya sasa na kufanya utabiri kulingana na simulations. Kwa wale katika sekta ya uhamaji, kuhesabu uzalishaji katika simulations trafiki husaidia kufanya maamuzi sahihi. Kwa mfano, PTV Vism's emissions calculations from Bosch inakupa data ya kufuatilia jinsi hatua za trafiki zinavyoathiri uzalishaji wa magari. Kuiga na kuchambua hatua zinazowezekana za trafiki ni muhimu kwa kutekeleza suluhisho za usimamizi wa trafiki zilizoimarishwa kwa mazingira ambazo hupunguza uchafuzi wa hewa. Mfumo wa Usimamizi wa Trafiki wa Akili: Njia bora ya kuunganisha mchakato wa usafiri endelevu katika manispaa ni kutumia mifumo ya usimamizi wa trafiki ya akili. Miji inaweza kupunguza msongamano wa trafiki kwa kufuatilia hali na kuingilia mapema na programu ya usimamizi wa trafiki ya PTV Optima. Utafiti wa PTV Optima unasaidia kupunguza muda wa kusafiri ili kuepuka njia ndefu za kuzunguka na kuondoa msongamano wa trafiki kabla ya kutokea, ambayo husaidia kupunguza uzalishaji. # 3 Kuwezesha na kukuza chaguzi za uhamaji wa mazingira Kwa kuwa watu wanazidi kuchagua chaguzi za mazingira katika maeneo yao ya ndani, manispaa lazima zifanye sehemu yao katika kuwapa raia wao chaguzi hizi. Kuchagua kuwa na ufahamu wa mazingira haipaswi kudhabihu urahisi na gharama, na njia ya kufanya hivyo ni kuwezesha na kukuza chaguzi za uhamaji wa kirafiki. Hapa ni baadhi ya njia manispaa inaweza tuzo eco- kirafiki: - Optimize EV kuchaji mitandao ili kukidhi kuongezeka kwa mahitaji ya vituo vya kuchaji. - Kugawa nafasi ya mitaani kwa baiskeli na kutembea ili kufungua njia kwa chaguzi zaidi endelevu za uhamaji. - Kutekeleza mpito wa hatua kwa hatua kwa mabasi ya umeme kuchukua nafasi ya mabasi ya dizeli. Mabadiliko ya hatua kwa hatua pamoja na hatua nyingine ni vyema tangu mabasi ya umeme ni ghali kununua katika meli. "Uwe Reiter anasema: ""Kulingana na lengo kuu la kuongeza ubora wa hewa na kupunguza athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa, usafiri endelevu utapunguza kelele kutoka kwa magari yanayoenda, utaongeza ubora wa maisha katika miji yetu, utawapa watoto, wazee na wakazi wengine wote uhuru wa kurudi nyuma, kusafiri salama, kukutana na marafiki, kukaa na kufurahia nafasi za umma za mijini bila uchafuzi, kelele, hatari na unyanyasaji. "" - Uwe Reiter." Naam, inategemea hali hususa. Kwa mfano, wakati kupunguza uzalishaji ni muhimu, matokeo hasi kama vile hasara ya kiuchumi kutokana na marufuku ya kuendesha gari inaweza kutokea. Hiyo ndiyo sababu mikakati ya usafiri endelevu na ufanisi lazima kuzingatia mambo ya mazingira na kiuchumi. Ili kupata bora ya ulimwengu wote, serikali za jiji na taasisi za umma zinahitaji mbinu ya pande nyingi na ya jumla ambayo inahusisha kuchambua na kutathmini hatua zinazowezekana mapema kabla ya kuchagua mikakati sahihi ya usimamizi wa trafiki. Ikiwa unahitaji msaada hapa, bidhaa za PTV hutoa manispaa zana sahihi zinazohitaji kuchambua, kutabiri, na kufanya maamuzi kwa usahihi na ufanisi. Pata maelezo zaidi kuhusu bidhaa za PTV zinazojitolea kuboresha ubora wa hewa.