Sustainable and Inclusive Transport Development Institutional issues in planning, policy formulation and coordination Transport Division UNESCAP, Bangkok http://www.unescap.org/ttdw Purpose of this presentation Institutional issues Barriers to sustainable development - Institutional, and policy barriers - Legal, social and cultural barriers - Resource barriers - Physical barriers Response of countries Some suggestions Way forward 1
Institutional issues Integrated policies reflecting multi sectoral nature Vertical and horizontal coordination Institutional void between national and urban levels Functional versus jurisdictional problem and institutional culture to work together De linkage between planning and financing Institutional capacity (in house capacity) Inherent weaknesses of the planning process and integration of transport with spatial policies These issues are reflected in some form of barriers Another Institutional issue There is another fundamental institutional issue Do we have a common understanding about sustainable transport (ST) development? We need to clarify our understanding about ST in the national context what are relevant, doable How we trade off between economic, financial, environmental and social sustainability how we compare them What would be our yardsticks to judge the merits of environmental sustainability and social inclusiveness. Answers to many of these questions have a political dimension. 2
Institutions in Transport Types Institutions are social constraints to bring and maintain order; four types: Informal values, norms, custom traditions and practices powerful determinants of behaviour changes very slowly; eg, value of safety, caring for people with disabilities lead to formal Formal Constitution, statutes, laws, regulations administrative orders powerful, changes faster than informal institutions Governance institutions minor laws, rules of business that cover how government organizations function and direct dealings with other organizations, agents and the public Government agencies, firms, Non profit organizations and pressure group dynamics that influence the decision environment and allocation of resources (not the groups but their dynamics) All together form the institutional environment Why institutional environment important Effectiveness of policies and planning depends on: the institutional framework within which they are formulated and planning is undertaken Institutional and policy barriers relate to: laws, regulations, rules formal and informal problems with coordinated action by different actors (governance institutions, statutes) policy bias and sector structural barriers social and cultural barriers Resource barriers Physical barriers They are barriers to x sectoral integrated planning, policy formulation and coordinated action by agencies 3
Legal barriers The legal framework may include a number of Laws (transport sector laws, environmental, municipal Law etc), statutes, regulations etc. Resolution of some of the institutional barriers may require changes in laws and regulations both within and outside the transport sector EU ITS example Distribution of power and authority between levels of government and organizations Fragmentation of authority a common problem Organizational mandates (also part of governance institutions) over and under lapping of authority Institutional and policy barriers refer to: Integration and coordination issues refer to Problems with integrated policy formulation and planning, and coordinated actions between different agencies or levels of government and to conflicts with other national and local policies Reasons may include: Legal mandates, absence of an institutional mechanism, policy bias, difference in organizational cultures (bureaucratic vs market orientation etc.), unfamiliarity, perceived difficulties, difference in sectoral priority, power play etc. 4
Integrated policy development issues Policy integration refers to management of cross sectoral issues in policy making; and management of policy responsibility within a single organization or a sector very challenging because of: Conflicting interests and priorities between policy makers of different sectors and levels of government, absence of an institutional mechanism However, policy integration is essential between levels of government (national, regional and local) vertical integration; between units, departments and ministries at different levels of government; horizontal integration at the same level Coordination issues Organizational culture bureaucratic, market orientation etc. Legal mandates of organizations Professional capacity sectoralrather than muti disciplinary Hierarchical administrative structure Lack of data and information systems to consider cross sectoral policies (eg, road safety) Unclear distribution of responsibilities on cross sectoral matters between levels of government and between departments Absence of common understanding about ST (discussed) 5
Institutional mechanism coordination Mechanisms for cooperation in joint/integrated policy making Setting up of arrangements such as interdepartmental committees, commissions, working and steering groups A central steering role by an organization can help the outcome of above arrangements and support coordination in joint policy formulation (eg, National Planning Commission in some countries) Formulation of inter sectoral strategies, policies, programmes, projects between agencies may embed collaboration in the organizational culture Public debate and participation can lead to more integrated policies and practice Effectiveness depends on: Financial allocation to promote integrated policies and implementation; x departmental/sectoral budgets for such policies Common analytical indicators and parameters Active role of citizens, civil society, NGOs etc. Importance of public debate and participation Public debate and other forms of public participation can lead to more integrated policies and practice. Also helpful for: To develop and deliver programmes more effectively and efficiently To build public confidence and trust in decision making To generate better understanding of issues, constraints, priorities and solutions To build broader support for initiatives and projects Sharing of information, data and experience To ensure decisions and policies incorporate knowledge and expertise that might have been overlooked To reflect a wider range of values and concern in decision making To identify and address controversial aspects of an issue We need an institutional mechanism to make this happen; without this difficult to practice and may lack a legal basis to consider the outcomes 6
Policy and structural barriers Policy biases are common reforms are needed eg., favouring road sector in resource allocation, ignoring true sustainable development measures, absence of equity considerations the needs of marginal and groups with special needs overlooked Policy distortions (eg. energy pricing) fuel subsidy in some countries, inconsistent, contradictory policies across sectors Sector and market structure in transport eg, fragmented freight sector in most DCs, difficult to improve efficiency could significantly improve efficiency economic + environmental Regulatory institutions and performance standards may be either lacking or deficient etc. Some comparison between traditional and sustainable transport Reorientation of focus of policy makers and planners is needed Traditional Planning Orientation Focus of technical analysis Trip-making and system characteristics between origins and destinations Air-quality conformity Benefits defined in economic terms Role of technology Promote individual mobility Meet government mandated performance thresholds to minimize negative impacts Improve system operations Typical issues Congestion Mobility and accessibility Environmental impact at macro-scale Little concern for secondary and cumulative impacts Sustainable transport orientation Focus of technical analysis Relationships between transportation, ecosystem land use economic development, and community social health Secondary and cumulative impacts Role of technology Travel substitution (non-transport solutions) and more options Benign new technology Life-cycle - to determine true costs More efficient use of existing system Typical issues Community quality of life Energy consumption Social equity and inclusiveness Road safety Pollution and GHGs 7
Some comparison between traditional and sustainable transport - Reorientation of focus (Continued) Traditional Planning Orientation Focus of planning - Accommodate travel demand Promote economic development Enhance safety system Catch up sprawl Enhanced system efficiency Types of strategies System expansion/safety Efficiency improvements Traffic management Demand management (from perspective of systems operation) Intelligent transportation systems Based on Meyer and Miller, 2001 Sustainable transport orientation Reduction of demand - alternative solutions in other sectors Balanced and integrated transport system Efficient use/management of existing infrastructure Promotion of higher capacity more efficient modes; intermodal facilities Types of strategies Overcoming institutional barriers through reform and change Integrated policy and coordinated actions Multimodal/intermodal Transport service integration Transportation-land use integration Maintenance of existing system Demand management Some suggestions for your consideration Identification of institutional barriers especially Formal institutions (are all conducive to ST?) Governance institutions (conducive to joint planning and action?) Institutionalize x sectoral joint/integrated policy formulation and implementation at all levels of government Remove policy biases and structural barriers Consider social and cultural barriers Address resource barriers innovative, new financing mechanismssome cases carbon financing may be possible Creating or strengthening regulatory institutions and performance standards for transport to ensure fair competition, efficiency and social inclusiveness as well as intergenerational equity 8
A final note A national dialogue is helpful to clarify and build consensus and common understanding about sustainable transport in the national context of a country; and how the concept is to be interpreted and defined in operational terms. This is needed as a basis for x sectoral policy and programme development. Way forward A clear understanding about sustainable transport development what measures relevant and doable (national context) Developing a culture and institutional mechanisms for x- sectoral integrated policy formulation and coordination of actions between implementing agencies A political champion for sustainable transport development to set examples (minister or mayor of a city) Institutional support resource availability, design guide Capacity of professionals and decision-makers reorientation of focus in transport development is needed 9
Thank You 10