TL: BACKGROUNDER - "AIR POLLUTION & GREENHOUSE - A TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR SYDNEY" SO: commissioned by Greenpeace Australia. (GP) DT: not dated [likely 1991] Keywords: atmosphere transportation policy australia urban cars smog global warming australasia gp greenpeace / The major finding of the report "Air Pollution & Greenhouse - A Transport Strategy for Sydney" concerns the development of a comprehensive Transport Strategy for Sydney to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Two key recommendations emerge from the report as a means of implementing the Transport Strategy. RECOMMENDATIONS As a matter of urgency, Greenpeace is calling for: 1) The establishment by the NSW government of a "Sydney Air Quality and Greenhouse Management Plan" . 2) A commitment by the NSW government to establish a "Public Transport Fund" to pay for the necessary expansion of the public transport system. REDUCING SYDNEY'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS All state governments now have greenhouse gas targets. NSW has the strongest target with a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide (C02). Nothing has been done in NSW to implement the Target. Sydney C02 emissions are currently 9.3 million tonnes with 88% generated by cars. This is 11% of national transport emissions. By 2011 with business as usual Sydney will produce 15.8 million tonnes or a 70% increase in carbon dioxide emissions, mostly from cars. REDUCING SYDNEY'S AIR POLLUTION Air quality in the Sydney basin has deteriorated significantly in the 60s and 70s, primarily due to transport related emissions. Motor vehicles produce 80% of nitrogen oxides (N0X), 66 - 75 % of hydrocarbons or reactive organic compounds (ROC), the precursors to photochemical smog. By 2011 without a major shift in policy direction, Sydney's air pollution emissions from transport would increase significantly: * Hydrocarbons - 13% increase (smog) * Nitrous oxides - 32% increase (smog) SUMMARY OF THE REPORT, "AIR POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE - A TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR SYDNEY" In Sydney transport energy use per person is 34,660 mj per person, falling between European and American cities. In order to reverse these trends in energy use and emissions, there is not one strategy which would be effective alone. A co- ordinated policy involving a number of measures is required if Sydney is to avoid the acute smog levels of Los Angeles. Although Los Angeles has a population 3 times as large as Sydney and the Los Angeles basin is 3 times the size, the level of pollution emitted per person is very similar. Sydney now emits 128 kg of hydrocarbons per person compared to Los Angeles at 90 kg per person. There is now an important difference between the two cities in that the Americans consider the situation to be so serious that they have developed an "Air Quality Management Plan", which will dramatically reduce air pollutants. Under the "Air Quality Management Plan", by 2011 Los Angeles will reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 80% and Nox emissions by 60%, rebuild their mass transit system including light and heavy rail lines, have 17% of the vehicle fleet electric vehicles by 2011. The NSW government is not taking heed of our severe air quality problems and is moving in the wrong direction by building more freeways. The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) may spend between $5-15 billion on freeways in the next 10 years. Without major new policy initiatives smog in Sydney is likely to exceed the levels in the L.A region within 10 years. In the report, Scenario 5, The combined landuse / transport option has a central focus involving the expansion of public transport - both heavy rail lines and the introduction of light rail in Sydney. Other supporting measures in this scenario include the effect of urban consolidation in reducing vehicle km travelled, regionalising employment, motor vehicle fuel efficiency, emission controls and fuel substitution including electric vehicles. The results of Scenario 5 - The combined landuse / transport scenario indicates that air pollution and greenhouse emissions can be reduced by the following. * A 21% reduction in 1990 Sydney transport C02 emissions * A 67% reduction in 1990 Sydney transport R0C emissions * A 63% reduction in 1990 sydney transport N0X emissions Many of the aspects of the " Proposed Sydney Air Quality Management Plan" link into the new infrastructure links such as urban consolidation along transport corridors and reduced congestion. Other initiatives such as reduced parking, traffic calming, park and ride - cycle and ride facilities will increase the patronage levels of the proposed new transport systems and further reduce emissions.