January 2009: A new paper, authored by Manmohan Parkash and published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), entitled “Climate Change and Transport: Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Transport in the People’s Republic of China,” evaluates the state of China’s transport sector in light of volatile fuel prices and increasing greenhouse emissions.

It considers issues of affordability, environmental sustainability and resource optimization and, in light of negative trends due to ongoing growth in the sector and weak implementation of government regulations, recommends 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. In particular, the paper makes six key recommendations for promoting environmentally sustainable transportation in China, including to: implement administrative reforms; use economic instruments to promote sustainable transportation; and promote environmentally friendly transportation. In this regard, measures are proposed to optimize motor vehicle fuel consumption standards. The paper also suggests the development of policies for the research, popularization and use of clean alternative energies, recommending that clean alternative fuels be first used in buses and government vehicles. It also suggests that the development of high-efficiency vehicles should be optimized and relevant policies formulated to focus on the introduction, research and industrialization of the hybrid synergy drive. [The Paper]