Eco-restructuring: Implications for Sustainable Development (UNU, 1998, 417 p.): Part II: Restructuring sectors and the sectoral balance of the economy: 11. The restructuring of transport, logistics, trade, and industrial space use: Conclusion

Eco-restructuring: Implications for Sustainable Development (UNU, 1998, 417 p.)

(introduction...)

1. Eco-restructuring: The transition to an ecologically sustainable economy

(introduction...)

Introduction: On sustainability

The need for holistic systems analysis

Environmental threats and (un)sustainability indicators

Sharpening the debate

Non-controversial issues: Population, resources, and technology

Controversial issues: Pollution, productivity, and biospheric stability

(introduction...)

On toxicity

The stability of the biosphere: The impossibility of computing the odds

Technical preconditions for sustainability

Finding the least-cost (least-pain) path

Concluding comments

Notes

References

Part I: Restructuring resource use

2. The biophysical basis of eco-restructuring: An overview of current relations between human economic activities and the global system

(introduction...)

Introduction

The earth system

The climate system and climatic change

Climatic change and vulnerability

Biological diversity

Fresh water

Soils

The solid earth (lithosphere)

Land-cover and land-use changes

Human impacts and industrial metabolism

The case of West Africa

Outlook

3. Ecological process engineering: The potential of bio-processing

(introduction...)

Editor's note

Introduction

The current situation: The status of biotechnologies

Potential and promises

Market penetration by biotechnology

Barriers to penetration

Final remarks

Notes

References

4. Materials futures: Pollution prevention, recycling, and improved functionality

(introduction...)

Editor's introduction

Background

Strategies to increase materials productivity

Materials technology

Material attributes

Material performance trends

Conclusions

Notes

References

5. Global energy futures: The long-term perspective for eco-restructuring

(introduction...)

Introduction

What is the energy system?

Energy system inefficiencies

The deep future energy system

Transition and the rate of change of the energy system

North-South disparity and sustainable energy systems

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

6. Fuel decarbonization for fuel cell applications and sequestration of the separated CO2

(introduction...)

The challenge of stabilizing the atmosphere

Flue gas decarbonization vs. fuel gas decarbonization

Lifecycle CO2 emissions - without and with CO2 sequestration

Options for sequestering CO2

Framing the cost analysis for CO2 sequestration

Major findings of the sequestration cost analysis

Appendix A: The importance of the water-gas shift reaction in fuel decarbonization

Appendix B: Biomass CO2 emission offset potential in a world where some coal-rich regions cannot or will not reduce emissions

Appendix C: Pipeline transport of hydrogen

Acknowledgements

Notes

References

7. Photovoltaics

(introduction...)

Introduction

The technological potential of PV

PV costs

A PV market diffusion strategy

Possible PV adoption and diffusion scenarios

Concluding remarks: PV and eco-restructuring

Notes

Bibliography

Part II: Restructuring sectors and the sectoral balance of the economy

8. Global eco-restructuring and technological change in the twenty-first century

(introduction...)

Globalization

Population growth and economic growth

Environmental pressures for global change

Scenario analysis and the use of materials

The challenge for eco-restructuring

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

9. Agro-eco-restructuring: Potential for sustainability

(introduction...)

Editor's note

The broad situation

Identifying the limiting factors

The technological feasibility of sustainable agriculture

The possible course towards sustainable change

Final remarks

Notes

References

10. The restructuring of tropical land-use systems

(introduction...)

Introduction

Models of rural development

The need for integrated solutions in tropical land use

Strategic issues

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

11. The restructuring of transport, logistics, trade, and industrial space use

(introduction...)

Introduction

The significance of freight transport

Past growth and patterns of freight transport development

Spatial and transport outcomes

Future developments affecting freight volumes and patterns

The scope for reducing freight volumes

Taking up the potential

Conclusion

Notes

References

12 National and international policy instruments and institutions for eco-restructuring

(introduction...)

Introduction

Building on small agreements

Economic policy instruments and mechanisms

International distributional implications

A precondition for social breakthroughs in the context of developing societies

Issues of science and technology for development

A future united nations system

References

Contributors

Other titles of interest

Conclusion

Although it is not possible to specify in abstract which patterns of land use, trade, logistics, and transport would offer greatest scope for reducing environmental stresses, shifts toward sustainable societies and economies would most likely involve:

- less physical movement,
- less emphasis on physical transportation infrastructures,
- substitution of information and capital flows for physical goods movement,
- greater mixing of land uses,
- less specialization and concentration in production,
- smaller-scale installations and use of flexible technologies to emphasize economies of scope over economies of scale,
- decentralization of production,
- greater reliance on local resources,
- greater serving of local markets,
- new networking arrangements among contractors/subcontractors,
- more sensitivity in matching activities and locations so as not to overreach local environmental capacities.

The flexibility for spatial and sectoral shifting - even within the framework set by the inertia of sunk costs and market contestability is considerable. However, the signs are not positive that these opportunities will automatically be taken up. Finding geographical and logistics arrangements that are less resource intensive and defining the market conditions under which these would be consistent with profit maximization is therefore a central concern for eco-restructuring. In this regard, spatial indicators could be important diagnostics in eco-restructuring processes. A reconfiguration of the market framework is necessary to provide the incentive/disincentive structure for change. Although it may not be politically possible in the short term to internalize all currently externalized social and environmental costs into environmental resource prices, it is important to begin that process soon and to target some sectors for early action. A combination of gradually increasing motorway tolls and fuel taxes, together with specific regulatory actions targeted at trucks and aimed at securing speed, loading, and environmental performance standards, would constitute an important start.

International agreement on a harmonized resource taxation system is unlikely. This implies that a way must be found to reconcile the need for individual countries or blocs to act independently to tax resource use without jeopardizing the competitiveness of their own industry in either domestic markets (vis-is imports) or in export markets (vis-is competing exporters). Maintaining a level playing field for international competition depends upon taxing imports on entry on the basis of their resource intensity and exempting exports from resource taxes using rebates, again based upon resource intensity. Such a solution would allow independent, incremental action by the lead countries. None the less, this would still depend first upon reforming the GATT agreement (Weaver 1995).

Because of interlinkages between freight transport and all other economic activities, actions targeted at freight transport (and at truck transport specifically) would have important knock-on effects. Together with the energy sector, transport is privileged in this respect. Against the backdrop of industrialized countries' obligations under the Framework Convention on Climate Change and responsibility to take the lead in eco-restructuring, the fact that transport energy use is increasing faster within these countries than within the developing world is salutary. It is indicative that this is a lifestyle issue - a reflection of conspicuous over-consumption in the context of distorted incentives. This makes it all the more important for policy to focus on freight transport. It is a critical and potential swing sector in eco-restructuring.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Gilberto Gallop Walther Manshard, Ray Hudson, and Michael Taylor for editorial comments on an earlier draft. Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek alerted me to relevant work at the Wuppertal Institute and Eric Britton to relevant work of EcoPlan International. Landis Gabel provided helpful information on deregulation, market liberalization, and freight transport. Thanks are due also to two anonymous reviewers whose suggestions for improvement were most helpful.