State Climate Commission helps lead the way on clean transportation choices for Hawaiʻi | Maui Now

Hawaiʻi State Climate Commission Reports on Clean Transportation Investments

The Hawaiʻi State Climate Commission has released three new reports detailing clean transportation investments that promote walking, biking, rolling, and transit across the state as an integral component to help address climate change.

Although the electrification of transportation remains an important factor in addressing energy and climate challenges, reducing car travel (or vehicle-miles traveled) through improved clean transportation choices is also an essential strategy.

Investing in Transportation Choices

It includes recommendations for policies, strategies, and near-term actions to help reduce the need for car travel. These seven recommendations call for:

1. Setting short- and long-term targets
2. Increased governmental agency collaboration
3. More alignment with land use plans
4. Stronger project-level analyses and tools
5. Greater resources for vehicle-miles traveled-reducing projects
6. Delivering on an active transportation network
7. Helping explain why expanded transportation choices and investing in them are so important to the state’s climate, health, and equity goals.

“Transportation costs are the fourth-largest expense for Hawaiʻi residents, so it makes sense to invest in ways to increase choices to make it safer and easier to get around,” said Mark B. Glick, Hawaiʻi’s chief energy officer. “This is an opportunity to save households as much as $41,000 a year while reducing carbon emissions and supporting active and healthy lifestyles.”

Drivers of Vehicles Miles Traveled and Priority Reduction Strategies for Hawaiʻi

It analyzes recent trends in car travel. Between 2009 and 2017, total vehicle miles traveled increased by 7.8% with some interesting observations:

• Rural household car travel is growing the fastest – possibly due to an absence of robust transportation choices.
• Commercial activity travel, such as freight, tourism, and deliveries, account for 15% and are likely to grow.
• 70% of personal trips are under five miles and account for 15% of vehicle miles traveled. This means that many trips are ripe for new modes if they are safe and accessible.

Although transportation choices may be different in different contexts, this work underscores several opportunities and bright spots in Hawaiʻi.

Roadway Expansion and Vehicle Miles Traveled

It applies RMI’s (formerly the Rocky Mountain Institute) SHIFT tool – a nationwide calculator to enable users to estimate long-term impacts of roadway expansion projects in Hawaiʻi.

As of 2022, nine planned road-widening projects would add an additional 38 lane-miles to the state’s roadways. Using RMI’s SHIFT tool, these projects are estimated to add an additional 144 million vehicle miles traveled, the equivalent of an additional 11,100 cars on the road and 19% of the state’s total transportation emissions. Without careful evaluation and mitigation in design, these new roads and lanes make it that much harder to meet our climate goals.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs that are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:

– SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

– SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

– SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

– SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

– SDG 13: Climate Action

– SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:

– Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

– Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

– Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

– Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

– Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: mauinow.com

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