As an energy-efficient, inclusive, and cost-effective mode of transportation, public transit is crucial in implementing the Paris Agreement’s objectives to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. However, the growing impacts of climate change present real risks to the reliability and availability of public transportation systems, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe worldwide.
Importance of Climate Adaptation in Public Transport
A recent Policy Brief emphasizes the urgent need for the public transport sector to enhance and accelerate climate adaptation efforts. These efforts are essential for improving service quality and safety, ensuring operational and financial resilience, and maintaining public transport as the backbone of sustainable mobility. Effective adaptation can also create more attractive, livable cities with vibrant local economies and strong communities.
UITP’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework
In line with a broader sustainability approach, the UITP has introduced a comprehensive and practical Climate Change Adaptation Framework. This document provides a step-by-step guide for UITP members to begin their adaptation journey, offering examples from various global stakeholders in public transport. The framework is accessible on MyLibrary.
Why We Need to Adapt Public Transport to Climate Change
Beyond reducing the impacts of climate change on transportation and mobility, adaptation enhances the robustness of the public transport sector. It ensures long-term business viability and cost-efficiency by addressing key organizational concerns like asset management, risk management, and health and safety. Research shows that investing $1 in strengthening infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries can yield benefits ranging from $2 to $4 when considering climate change.
Current Climate Change Impacts on Public Transport
The effects of climate change on public transport are already evident worldwide. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), even if we achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2050, the effects will intensify, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. Public transport systems face various impacts, including:
- Physical damage to infrastructure from extreme weather
- Disruptions to services and increased risks to staff and passengers from heat, flooding, and severe storms
- Changing demand for transport services due to new climate conditions
Building a Climate-Resilient Public Transport Sector
To address these challenges, public transport authorities, operators, manufacturers, and stakeholders must integrate climate adaptation into their planning and operations. The UITP’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework outlines a seven-stage process to support this effort:
- Evaluate the organization’s climate change adaptation maturity
- Prepare for climate adaptation
- Assess climate risks to the organization
- Identify adaptation measures to address these risks
- Select and implement effective adaptation measures
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these measures
With the support of public authorities and governing bodies, all stakeholders must work together to ensure the provision of safe, affordable, inclusive, and sustainable mobility options for citizens globally.
Conclusion
Adapting public transport to climate change is not just about resilience; it’s about creating opportunities for more attractive, livable cities. By integrating proactive adaptation measures, the public transport sector can secure its role in sustainable urban mobility and contribute to the broader goal of building resilient communities and economies.
