Fair mobility budgets: A concept for achieving climate neutrality and transport equity

Efficiency, consistency and sufficiency as complementary strategies for sustainable mobility.
Elsevier, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 103, February 2022
Authors: 
Millonig A., Rudloff C., Richter G., Lorenz F., Peer S.

Transport justice has two essential dimensions: (1) compensating for inequalities in access to mobility, and (2) mitigating the disproportionately burdensome negative consequences of transport. In light of the urgently needed action regarding climate change especially in the transport sector, measures reducing carbon emissions to mitigate the impact are inevitable. However, policy measures for reaching climate targets should avoid increasing unequal mobility chances. Therefore, there is a need for concepts striving to mitigate both climate impacts and transport injustice. The paper addresses the potential of introducing individual mobility budgets to achieve transport-related climate goals while reducing inequalities in mobility. The concept proposed in this contribution is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative impact assessment methods including a stakeholder involvement process and transport modelling based on different data sources. The results provide policy recommendations as well as further research requirements, which are already partly addressed iin follow-up projects.