IEA Report Offers Prescription to Ease Urban Transit Congestion
The world’s urban streets are crowded, and getting worse. In a new report that draws from encouraging real-world examples, the IEA offers ideas for increasing cities’ transit efficiency.
There is, however, another way forward. The IEA report, titled "A Tale of Renewed Cities," recommends several proven strategies for enhancing the energy efficiency of metropolitan transport systems. Drawing from examples in more than 30 cities around the world, the report details a three-pronged approach to managing transit amid ever-growing urban populations. (See related quiz: "What You Don't Know About Cities and Energy.")
Global transportation accounts for 20 percent of the world's energy use, and 40 percent of that consumption occurs in cities. "The need for efficient, affordable, safe and high-capacity transport solutions will become more acute," Maria van der Hoeven, IEA director, said at a press conference that was webcast live from the Paris office of the agency, which
