| Abstract |
Transport has played a very important role in developing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) national economy and connecting the remote and underdeveloped regions with the more developed regions. However, with increasing oil prices and alarming increase in the greenhouse gas emissions, transport faces competitive challenges of sustainability, affordability, and safety. This paper is an analysis of challenges faced by the transport sector and discusses the key issues of sustainability, resource optimization, and climate change. Affordability, transportation equity, and environmental sustainability are some of the key issues discussed in the paper. As the personal incomes in the PRC grow, it is important that the transport planners take these important issues into consideration. The paper argues that the business-as-usual approach is no longer a viable option, and there is a need for a new, target-oriented approach that places energy efficiency, environment, and health at the top of the policy agenda for transport and related sectors at all levels. The paper makes six key recommendations for promoting environmentally sustainable transportation that can be considered by the PRC for implementation. |
