Topic: cities

ADVISORY: CONNECTKaro sustainable transport and urbanization event set to kick-off in Mumbai

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 -0400

On April 15-16, Indian and international experts will discuss the current scenario of sustainable transport and urban planning in India, and the opportunities for the future of sustainable cities

EMBARQ India, the World Resources Institute’s centre for sustainable transport and urban planning in India, will be hosting CONNECTKaro, a conference that brings together international leaders in sustainable transport and urban development April 15-16 in Mumbai. This is the inaugural meeting of CONNECTKaro, the regional event part of a global series of events focused on sustainable transport that the EMBARQ network organizes. Over 150 experts including government officials, policy makers, and practitioners in the field of urban transport and urban planning will convene in Mumbai, India, to participate in this global gathering.

The theme for the conference is “Karo” – to make it happen – to translate ideas into action. Scaling sustainable transport and ensuring it is integrated with land development is key for Indian cities as they grow in population, economically and spatially, over the next decade. The ideas of sustainable transport and integrated land development have been demonstrated in a few cities around the world. CONNECTKaro sessions will focus how these can be adapted and replicated in India.

EMBARQ India’s bi-annual Bus Karo Plus “Talking Transit” workshop series will be part of the conference, held in partnership with the Brihanmumbai Electrical Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).

The opening plenary session, on April 15, will set the vision for the conference and will include remarks from Dr. Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development; Mr. UPS Madan, Commissioner, MMRDA; Mr. OP Gupta, General Manager, BEST Undertaking; Mr. Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman and MD, Godrej and Boyce Ltd; Ms. Henriette Vamberg, Director, Cities, Gehl Architects, and Mr. Madhav Pai, Director, EMBARQ India.

On April 16, the closing plenary will focus on “Market Opportunities for Sustainable Transport” and will include: Mr. Manish Bapna, Executive VP and Managing Director, WRI; and Mr. Madhav Pai, Director, EMBARQ India; along with Mr. Anil Baijal, Non Executive Chairman, IDFC Foundation / Former Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India; Mr. Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman WRI India; and Dr. Armin Bruck, CEO Siemens India.

Other sessions of the conference include road safety in Indian cities, enhancing safe access to transit nodes, transit-oriented development, master planning, the role of auto-rickshaws in sustainable transport, and others, bringing together industry experts to discuss the current scenario and the way forward in effecting positive interventions in sustainable transport and urban planning.

You can find a detailed programme of events here.

WHAT:
CONNECTKaro, a sustainable transport and urban development conference

WHEN:
April 15 – 16, 2013

WHERE:
Trident Hotel
Nairman Point
Mumbai, India

To watch the sessions in a live webcast, register here

For more information or to set up media interviews, please contact dkottadiel@embarqindia.org

RELEASE: C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and World Resources Institute Partner to Promote City Transit Solutions

James Anderson — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:44:03 -0500

The World Resources Institute, led by its sustainable transport center, EMBARQ, and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) established a partnership today that will further their mutual goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban transportation. The partnership focuses on scaling up solutions and enhancing C40 cities transport efforts related to sustainable urban planning, bus rapid transit systems, and non-motorized transit initiatives.

Together, these organizations will tackle a transport sector that accounts for roughly 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

“This new partnership with EMBARQ and its global network of transportation expertise will accelerate the work cities are doing to implement more efficient and effective transit systems,” said C40 Chair and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “By combining the forces of two organizations that know how to get things done we will help provide greater transit options that will help us build a more sustainable planet.”

For over ten years, EMBARQ has catalyzed and implemented sustainable transport solutions to improve the quality of life in cities in terms of pollution, public health, and safety. Similarly, C40 works to implement innovative, replicable transit solutions that reduce GHG emissions at the city level.

“Mayor Bloomberg and the leaders of other C40 cities are committed to shifting to a low-carbon future – and this partnership will help them to get there,” said Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “The world’s middle class is booming and people are more mobile than ever before. We need smart, people-focused transportation solutions that will help create better cities and a more sustainable world.”

C40 and the World Resources Institute cemented a long-standing relationship through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that will encourage the two entities to collaborate on the following:

Supporting climate mitigation and adaptation measures through sustainable and equitable transportation policies in C40 cities;
Leveraging C40 networks, or working groups of peer C40 cities (e.g. Sustainable Urban Development Network and Bus Rapid Transit Network), to develop and share integrated transit and urban development planning in and among C40 cities; and
Collaborating to support and promote low-carbon urban development in C40 cities, with particular attention paid to bus rapid transit and non-motorized transport.

EMBARQ is already actively working in the following C40 Cities: Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (Brazil); Mexico City (Mexico); Lima (Peru); Istanbul (Turkey); Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore (India).

“By combining our vast networks and deep technical capacity, C40 and EMBARQ are positioned to make a significant contribution to reducing city-level emissions and creating better transport systems,” said Holger Dalkmann, director, EMBARQ. “Mayor Bloomberg is a proven leader by transforming New York City and raising the ambition of mayors around the world. Now, we need to more cities to follow C40’s lead by scaling up transportation and low-carbon solutions that create a healthier and safer world.”

The two organizations have collaborated in the past. C40 is currently working with EMBARQ’s parent organization, WRI, to establish a single standard for measuring city emissions – the Global Protocol for Community-scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Additionally, Mayor Bloomberg’s philanthropic foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, also collaborates with and provides support for EMBARQ’s international activities to improve road safety.

Media Contacts:

World Resources Institute: Michael Oko, moko@wri.org; (202) 246-9269
C40: Mike Marinello, mmarinello@c40.com

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About C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 was established in 2005 and expanded via a partnership in 2006 with President William J. Clinton’s Climate Initiative (CCI). The current chair of the C40 is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. To learn more about the work of C40 and our Cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

About EMBARQ—WRI’s Center for Sustainable Transport (EMBARQ)
EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, catalyzes and helps implement sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. Since 2002, the EMBARQ network has expanded to Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Turkey and the Andean Region, collaborating with local and national authorities, business and civil society to reduce pollution, improve public health, and create safe, accessible and attractive urban public spaces. http://www.embarq.org

ADVISORY: Mayor Bloomberg and World Bank President Kim Headline Transforming Transportation 2013

James Anderson — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:24:38 -0500

The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, and Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, are scheduled to headline a keynote session at the annual Transforming Transportation conference in Washington, D.C. The session on “Shaping the Future of Urban Transport” aims to galvanize awareness of challenges facing cities and urban transport, share examples and solutions from the World Bank, New York City/Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the World Resources Institute.

The conference is being hosted jointly by EMBARQ—the World Resource Institute’s center for sustainable transport and the World Bank. This is the 10th annual Transforming Transportation, which aims to scale-up and advance the adoption of sustainable solutions in transport and urbanization around the world.

The session will also include remarks by Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute, and Ms. Rachel Kyte, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank. The session will be moderated by Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s Economics Editor based in Washington D.C.

The session will focus on the urban challenges in the U.S. and around the globe. Cities everywhere are under increased pressure from rapid population growth, exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Sandy. Increased motorization is also resulting in negative externalities such as congestion, emissions, and road fatalities. The conference will explore how scaling up sustainable transport will bring the smart solutions to the diverse set of challenges that cities are facing.

WHAT:
Plenary Session with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York; Dr. Jim Kim, President, World Bank; Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute; Ms. Rachel Kyte, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank.

WHEN:
Friday, January 18, 2013

TIME:
9:00 to 10:00 a.m. ET
Note: Registered media should arrive by 08:30 a.m. in order to sign in.

PLACE:
Preston Auditorium
World Bank Headquarters
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC

The event will be live streamed. Check “Watch Live” at TransformingTransportation.org

NOTE: Media must register for this event to Alexis O’Brien at aobrien@worldbank.org or tel. (202) 473-2409

For more information, please contact:
Michael Oko, moko@wri.org; (202) 729-7684 (WRI)

WRI’s website: www.wri.org
EMBARQ website: www.EMBARQ.org
Conference website: http://TransformingTransportation.org
Twitter hashtag: #TTDC

ADVISORY: WRI's Stories to Watch 2013

James Anderson — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:03:26 -0500

WRI will host its 10th annual Stories to Watch event on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dr. Andrew Steer, WRI’s President & CEO, will present insights into the big environmental and international development trends and events that will affect people and the planet in 2013.

Topics will likely include: What will the Obama Administration do to address climate and energy? How will China’s new leadership advance its goal of “ecological progress”? What countries will emerge on the forefront of sustainability? And, how will financial constraints impact businesses seeking to shift to a more sustainable pathway?

A continental breakfast will be served.

WHAT
World Resources Institute’s Stories to Watch 2013

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.

Dr. Steer is a leading expert on economic development and environmental issues. He has three decades of experience working on international development and on the front lines in Asia and Africa, and at a senior level in international policy roles.

WHERE
National Press Club
Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20045

CALL-IN INFO
USA (Toll Free): (866) 803-2143
International (Toll): + 1 (210) 795-1098

Access code: “WRI”

WHEN
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. ET

Use #STW2013 on Twitter.

RSVP required to press@wri.org

Dr. Lailai Li Appointed as Director of WRI China

James Anderson — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:18:21 -0500

The World Resources Institute (WRI) today announced the appointment of Dr. Lailai Li as the new country director of WRI China. A well-recognized thought leader and researcher, Dr. Li brings a strong background of working on development pathways toward greater sustainability in China and globally. Previously, Dr. Li served as Deputy Director of the China Urban Sustainable Transport Research Centre at the Ministry of Transport and as the Director of the Asia Region for the Stockholm Environment Institute.

“Dr. Li takes the reins of WRI China at a critical moment. China’s progress in adapting low-carbon and sustainable solutions is vital to the entire world,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “Dr. Li brings an outstanding record of accomplishments in environment and development issues, which will enable her to expand WRI’s impact. Our work in China is core to our mission, and we are very much looking forward to Dr. Li’s leadership on these activities into the future.”

Dr. Li has recently led international research on economics of climate change in China, as well as ecosystem services and management. She has also spearheaded the development of a collaborative program with Chinese partners on “rethinking development – developing low carbon cities.”

“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to lead WRI’s projects in China and to work with my colleagues to advance our goals in the country and beyond,” said Dr. Li. “This is an important moment to bring our solid research and practical solutions to advance sustainability in China.”

Dr. Li is a widely recognized expert and published author. She received her Post-Doctoral Fellow at Peking University, in Beijing, and received her PhD and MA from the University of Pittsburgh, in the United States.

“Dr. Li has long served as the head of the Leadership on Environment and Development, or LEAD, training programs in China. She has contributed significantly to the training of Chinese youth about environmental and sustainable development concepts and leadership. I believe she will bring WRI’s work in China to a higher level, and bring her wisdom and strength in the new journey of China sustainable development and Sino-U.S. cooperation,” said Qian Yi, a member of the China Advisory Board of WRI and a professor of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University.

WRI China was established in 2008 to expand the institute’s impact in key emerging markets at the forefront of sustainability. Dr. Li was preceded as WRI China Country Director by Dr. Zou Ji, who is currently the Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC), under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Over the past year, Dr. Xiaomei Tan has served as the acting director, and she also oversees WRI’s sustainable urbanization work in China.

“We are grateful of the strong and dynamic leadership of Dr. Tan, who helped deepen WRI’s projects and relationships in China,” said Dr. Steer. “Dr. Tan has helped position WRI for success in China, and we are now excited for the next phase under Dr. Li’s guidance.”

Dr. Li will assume her office in February 2013.

WRI China has a staff of more than two dozen people and is actively working at both national and regional levels on sustainable and livable cities, climate change, energy, greenhouse gas accounting, clean water, transport and other projects in China.

RELEASE: EMBARQ Turkey Officially Established in Istanbul

James Anderson — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:10:30 -0400

Regional Hub Joins Global Transport Network to Advance Sustainability and Road Safety

EMBARQ Turkey (Türkiye) was officially established in Istanbul, becoming the sixth hub in EMBARQ’s global network of sustainable transport research and implementation centers.

“EMBARQ Turkey represents an important foothold in a region to help improve sustainable mobility ,” says EMBARQ Director Holger Dalkmann. “By bringing together new partners from government, business and non-profit sectors, we can identify and scale-up transportation solutions that improve health and road safety, boost quality of life, and promote sustainability.”

Since 2005, EMBARQ—WRI’s center for sustainable transport—has been conducting research and implementing projects in Turkey, such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Istanbul, cycling projects in Antalya, and more. The center’s new legal presence offers an opportunity to engage even more deeply.

At the opening general assembly, Arzu Tekir, EMBARQ Turkey’s new executive director, presented updates on activities and financial reports, while the 16-member assembly voted on an advisory board of experts and leaders in the field.

The newly elected board members are Ayşe Canan Ediboğlu, Ali Rıza Danış, Tayfun Bayazıt, M. Pınar Mengüç and Sibel Bulay.

EMBARQ Turkey’s staff consists of Arzu Tekir, Executive Director; Ali Doğan Şalva, Transport Engineer/Planner; Elif Can Yüce, Urban Planner; and Pınar Köse, Administrative Assistant. The team will be expanding in the coming months to include a senior transport engineer.

“We are very excited to build on our foundation and enter a new phase for our organization,” said Tekir. “Working through our global network, we are eager to develop innovative and lasting solutions that will improve the lives for millions of people in Turkey and beyond.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided the initial funds for EMBARQ Turkey, which will focus on health and road safety programs.

Online: www.embarqturkiye.org
Twitter: @embarqturkiye
Facebook: https://www.fb.com/embarqturkiye

# # #

The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future. www.wri.org

EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, catalyzes and helps implement sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. www.embarq.org

Sustainable Cities Initiative

Christine Potochny — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:13:34 -0400

In October 2011, WRI launched a five-year global initiative to advance the progress of building environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil. We intend to develop low-carbon city models and pathways for environmentally sustainable urbanization, by partnering with four urban centers to increase energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and improve water quality, urban mobility and land use.

The Challenges of Rapid Urbanization

China, India, and Brazil are among the world’s most rapidly urbanizing nations. In China, experts predict that by 2030 more than 70 percent of its people will live in cities, and that 221 cities will have at least one million residents. In India and Brazil, urban growth is explosive, expanding existing cities and creating new ones. In all three nations, cities have the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty and become powerful engines for social progress.

Rapid urbanization, however, poses substantial challenges. Poorly-planned, sprawling cities have the potential to undermine efforts to sustain economic growth, improve energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and secure clean water supplies. Although China, India, and Brazil are rethinking their approach to urban growth to prevent such setbacks, the leaders of many growing cities lack the training and tools needed to translate concerns into practical, cost-effective action. As a result, these cities risk making poorly-informed development decisions that will have long-lasting consequences.

Recent developments suggest that the time is ripe for meaningful action. In China, urbanization and sustainability issues feature prominently in the national government’s new 12th Five Year Plan, and cities will be required to meet new environmental targets. In India, the world’s fourth largest economy, a growing middle class is demanding better planned, more livable cities. In Brazil, the government has launched a major initiative to fundamentally remake major cities, spurred in part by its commitment to host the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Olympics.

Project Objectives

Our objective is to create “blueprints” or low carbon plans for environmentally-sustainable and livable cities that we will use, with selected partner cities in China, India, and Brazil, to catalyze and help implement high-impact demonstration projects. We will then use a targeted outreach effort to spread and scale-up lessons learned to other growing cities. Our overarching strategy for replication is to leverage WRI’s existing platforms in each country. These include pioneering work in China on greenhouse gas inventories and low carbon planning, and working through EMBARQ (WRI’s Center for Sustainable Transport) on urban transport and land use issues. National networks of cities, international associations, and major conferences will also be established to provide routes for delivering knowledge to a wide variety of stakeholders in highly communicative, interactive formats.

Project Activities

This Sustainable Cities Initiative has three main activities over the course of five years (2011-2016).

These activities are taking place simultaneously, in regards to the specific needs and conditions in each country.

Blueprints for Environmentally Smarter Growth

We’ve identified key steps toward addressing climate, water, land use and mobility challenges in ways that: a) maximize economic efficiency and social benefits;
b) minimize sprawl and environmental damage; and
c) position the city to become a national and international model for sustainability.

Demonstration Projects

Moving from blueprints to action, WRI has begun to catalyze large, high-profile and integrated projects that address more than one goal. Illustrative demonstration projects include enabling a city to meet its carbon emissions-reduction targets; integrating development, transportation and pollution-reduction; and improving water quality and quantity.

Spreading Success to other Emerging Cities

WRI and its partners will pursue aggressive and targeted communications efforts to highlight the benefits of following new, smarter paths to urban growth among decision-makers in dozens of countries.

RELEASE: WRI and UN-Habitat Partner to Support Sustainable Urban Mobility

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:38:49 -0400

New collaboration aims to make cities better places to live and work.

The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN–Habitat) and EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, are partnering to create more sustainable cities by working to provide universal access to safe, clean and affordable transport. The new initiative will focus on the needs of poor and vulnerable groups, and finding more ways to incorporate transport into broader land use planning and implementation.

The two groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase collaboration on sustainable urban mobility. The MOU was signed by Holger Dalkmann, EMBARQ Director, and Dr. Joan Clos, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, during the World Urban Forum.

“EMBARQ has an ambitious goal to ensure that 200 cities, mostly in emerging economies, will adopt sustainable mobility into urban development by 2016,” Dalkmann said. “This partnership will help us reach millions of people worldwide and provide them with opportunities to live and work in a safe, clean and attractive urban environment, with easy access to high-quality transport systems that benefit both the environment and the economy.”

Under the terms of the MOU, both partners agree to build a network of experts that will collaborate on sustainable urban mobility solutions, including financing and funding opportunities, capacity building, knowledge management, research and joint participation at international events.

The first joint publication under this partnership, “Quick Guide: Establishing a Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Urban Mobility,” was released today at the World Urban Forum. This is one of a series of four step-by-step guides aimed at city officials seeking to improve urban mobility.

“Sustainable transport systems are extremely important for the productivity and livability of our cities,” said Dr. Clos. “The new cities of the 21st Century should be designed to drive growth and prosperity and our partnership with EMBARQ offers emerging economies an opportunity to put efficient, safe and clean transport at the heart of urban planning.”

As least 15 voluntary commitments were made at the recent United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) around sustainable transport. These included a Voluntary Commitment facilitated by UN-Habitat on “Building Institutional and Political Capacity for Sustainable Urban Mobility.” The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also announced transport as a building block in his “Action Agenda” for the development of a post-2015 Framework for Sustainable Development.

# # #

The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI’s transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future. www.wri.org

EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, catalyzes and helps implement sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. www.embarq.org

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme is the United Nations agency for housing and urban development. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. www.unhabitat.org

STATEMENT: Development Banks Announce "Game Changer" for Sustainable Transport at Rio+20

Lauren Zelin — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:38:38 -0400

The world’s largest multi-lateral development banks — led by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and others — committed to provide more than $175 billion over 10 years to support sustainable transport in developing countries.

The announcement was made at the UN Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20) by the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, CAF- Development Bank of Latin America, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and the World Bank.

Following is a statement from Holger Dalkmann, director of EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport:

“This is a game changer for sustainable transport. It will ensure that hundreds of millions of people will have cleaner air, less congested roads, and safer transportation.

“Ten years ago transportation wasn’t even in the discussion; now it’s a major outcome from the world’s preeminent conference on sustainable development.

“Banks are putting their money where it matters — on streets built for people, not just cars. The world’s population is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, with more than half living in Asia, mostly in urban areas. At the same time, the rate of vehicle ownership is predicted to skyrocket from around 800 million cars a decade ago to around 2 billion in 2030. These two mega-trends are coming together to create an environment where people must compete for financial, institutional, and physical resources. In response, we need better urban designs; more sustainable transportation modes, like walking, biking and mass transit; and improvements in existing vehicle and fuel technology.

“This investment is not just about improving the way people move from point A to point B; it’s also about providing access and mobility for the poor and improving road safety, not to mention reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. Transport is no small piece of the climate change pie: the sector represents approximately one-quarter of global CO2 emissions.

“Today’s announcement will no doubt encourage other decision-makers, especially national governments, to consider financing transport projects based on social and environmental benefits. It will push sustainability into the core of urban development.

“At the same time, we need to make sure that the money gets invested into the right kind of projects, and that there are sound mechanisms to measure its impact. This will require full transparency and independent monitoring.

“Countries often invest in transportation and infrastructure, but much of that goes into highways. We need to be smarter about where money flows, whether that means creating vibrant public spaces, providing safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, or building high-tech, low-cost transit systems. Doing this would be a paradigm shift in the way we finance the growth of sustainable cities, similar to what the Asian Development Bank has done with its Sustainable Transport Initiative, a lending and technical assistance program for transport projects in Asia and the Pacific that emphasizes inclusive economic and environmentally sustainable growth.

“EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, is a founding member of the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport, which helped to catalyze this new financial commitment by the banks.

“Years from now, we may look back at Rio+20 as the moment when transport was pushed to the top of the sustainability agenda.”

-ENDS-

For more information on EMBARQ, visit: www.embarq.org.

Note: To schedule an interview, contact: Michael Oko, moko@wri.org.

RELEASE: New Traffic Safety Guidelines Can Save Lives on Bus Corridors Worldwide

Lauren Zelin — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:32:23 -0400

EMBARQ releases most comprehensive research on traffic safety to cut down on the 1.2 million global traffic deaths each year

Editor’s note: Join EMBARQ for a special webinar on June 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. EDT: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/857078514*

Each year, 1.2 million people die in traffic crashes, according to the World Health Organization, and traffic fatalities are projected to become the fifth leading cause of premature death worldwide by 2030, ahead of HIV/AIDS, violence, tuberculosis, or any type of cancer. One way to prevent many of these deaths and injuries is to improve traffic safety, especially on major bus corridors in cities. EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, today released the draft “Traffic Safety on Bus Corridors” guidelines to improve traffic safety worldwide. Based on more than two years of research, the guidelines are part of the Road Safety in 10 Countries (RS10) project, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“This guidebook is part of a broader effort by EMBARQ to illustrate how sustainable transport projects can greatly improve traffic safety and ultimately save lives and improve quality of life for people around the world,” said Holger Dalkmann, director of EMBARQ.

The guidelines are based on findings from a two-year research project, led by EMBARQ, which evaluated safety, operations, and accessibility on major bus corridors and bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in 18 cities around the world. Key findings show:

Pedestrians account for the majority of fatalities across all bus corridors;
Safety on BRT and bus corridors depends on the overall design of the street and not just the bus infrastructure;
Center-lane BRT corridors with closed stations are the safest design option;
Counterflow, when buses drive in the opposite direction of mixed traffic, is the most dangerous type of configuration for a bus corridor; and
The most common types of vehicle collisions in BRT systems occur when cars make illegal left turns across bus lanes and collide with oncoming buses.

“BRT and bus routes are often located on major urban roads, which have the highest concentration of traffic crashes in cities,” said Claudia Adriazola, director of EMBARQ’s Health and Road Safety program. “A new BRT system can attract a lot of pedestrians to these areas, so it is crucial to help cities understand how to maximize safety for everyone on the road.”

The purpose of the draft planning and design guidelines is to provide bus agencies, local jurisdictions, and regional and international organizations with a set of suggested design, planning, and operational criteria for bus systems, including BRT corridors. The guidelines include recommendations for street design, intersections, stations, and station access, as well as transfers and terminals.

“Data has shown that after the implementation of some BRT systems, such as TransMilenio in Bogota or Macrobus in Guadalajara, crashes and fatalities on these corridors dropped by as much as 50 percent,” said Dario Hidalgo, director of EMBARQ’s Research and Practice and an author of the guidelines. “Not all bus systems have had a positive impact on safety, and in some cases, there is still considerable room for improvement, which is why EMBARQ developed these guidelines to improve traffic safety.”

The research included iconic BRT systems in places like Curitiba and Bogota, Colombia, megacities Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, as well as examples from New Delhi and Ahmedabad, India, and Brisbane, Australia.

“Our research shows that the design of a bus corridor can have a significant influence on the frequency of crashes on the street,” said Luis Antonio Lindau, president of EMBARQ Brazil, who contributed to the research.

During the next six months, experts are invited to provide feedback on the content, methodology, feasibility, and usefulness of the safety recommendations. The feedback will be incorporated into the final version of the guidelines, to be released in 2013.

To read the full report visit: http://www.embarq.org/sites/default/files/EMB2012_Traffic_Safety_on_Bus_Corridors_Pilot_Version.pdf.

To participate in the “road test,” please contact EMBARQ Transportation Research Analyst Nicolae Duduta at nduduta@wri.org.

# # #

EMBARQ catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. www.embarq.org

RELEASE: International Partners Release Pilot Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lauren Zelin — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:18:27 -0400

C40, ICLEI, WRI and partners achieve a significant milestone towards establishing a single standard for measuring emissions for cities

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, together with international partners, are launching a pilot version of the Global Protocol for Community-scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions (also called the “community protocol”). This landmark effort represents a significant step forward in harmonizing emissions measurement and reporting processes for cities of all sizes and geographies: the community protocol will be piloted in selected cities to establish a single minimum global standard for community-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement. A transparent, consistent and common approach provides cities with a much-needed tool for effective climate action planning and financing.

Developed in close collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Joint Work Programme of the Cities Alliance between the World Bank Group, UN-HABITAT and UNEP, the community protocol was introduced at an official side event during the UNFCCC climate meetings in Bonn, Germany.

The community protocol marks a major milestone in the year-long partnership between C40 and ICLEI, working in close consultation with local governments. In March 2012, the partners released a draft edition for public comment. More than 30 expert organizations worldwide and cities including Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Paris, Portland, and Taipei City provided comments, which were incorporated in the pilot version of the protocol launched today.

“Measurement and reporting underpins the local action driving C40 Cities leadership in addressing global climate change,” says Jay Carson, C40 Executive Director. “As such, the community protocol represents the interests, needs and challenges of C40 Cities.”

“The implementation of the protocol will strengthen efforts for measurable, reportable, verifiable local climate action. It will enhance access of local governments to global climate funds and help cities to raise the level of ambition of national governments to mitigate climate change.” says Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Secretary General of ICLEI. “The Protocol complements and advances more than two decades of global efforts on local climate action, in which ICLEI has been pioneering.”

Ongoing efforts: expanded partnership, scope

Moving forward, C40, ICLEI, and WRI will incorporate pilot test results and expand the community protocol into a more comprehensive GHG accounting standard for community-scale emissions, including consideration of a full range of direct and indirect GHG emissions from urban activities. This will enable local governments to account for how demand for goods and services as well as local innovative technologies can impact a GHG footprint.

“The release of the pilot community-level protocol moves us toward a much-needed and common approach to accounting for greenhouse gas emissions in cities, a major driver of global emissions,” says Manish Bapna, Interim President, World Resources Institute. “We look forward to deepening our collaboration, as we build on the feedback and draw on our collective expertise to develop a comprehensive protocol for cities and communities.”

Ongoing efforts to develop the community protocol will continue to bring cities and their leadership together with leading global actors working with cities on climate and sustainability issues, including the Joint Work Programme on Cities and Climate Change of the UNEP, UN-HABITAT and the World Bank Group supported by Cities Alliance.

In next steps, the global partners will pilot the community protocol in selected cities around the world, based on expressions of interest. Pilot results and further feedback from practitioners and experts will be reflected in the first edition of the full community protocol to be published later this year.

# # #

About C40:
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a global network of the world’s largest cities committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate‐related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. www.c40.org

About ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability:
ICLEI is a global association of local governments and municipal organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. More than 1200 local governments and their associations, representing over 500 million people in 70 countries, constitute ICLEI’s membership. ICLEI acts as the focal point of local governments and municipal authorities (LGMA) constituency to the UNFCCC. www.iclei.org

About World Resources Institute:
The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. The Institute’s GHG Protocol is a partnership between WRI and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development that is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to develop GHG accounting standards and tools to quantify and manage GHG emissions. www.wri.org and www.ghgprotocol.org

For more information on GHG Protocol City Accounting click here.

RELEASE: New Global Database on Bus Rapid Transit Launched

Lauren Zelin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:57:59 -0400

BRTdata.org provides most robust data to improve mobility and reduce carbon emissions from transit

Three global organizations have teamed up to launch the most comprehensive, public database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems around the world. The new site, http://BRTdata.org, was created by EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, and the Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE), in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

BRT is one of the fastest growing public transport systems. Approximately 134 cities worldwide— from Bogota to Beijing— have implemented BRT systems or priority bus corridors, serving more than 22 million passenger trips daily.

BRT is a mode of public transport that flexibly combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways and intelligent transportation system elements into an integrated system.

“The new website provides reliable and up-to-date data to help researchers, transit agencies, city officials, and NGOs understand and make better decisions to improve BRT and bus corridors in their cities,” said Dario Hidalgo, Director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ. “This is the first time that all of this publicly available data has been compiled in one place, but there is still more information available. We invite transit agencies and researchers to help us improve the knowledge base by sharing additional data to fill in the gaps.”

The new website allows users to compare BRT systems and bus corridors in all 134 cities in 36 countries. The database includes 95 different indicators on system operations, design and cost, including metrics like the number of passengers per day, commercial speed, and the length of corridors.

There is growing interest and demand for BRT as cities seek low-cost, sustainable urban transportation solutions. As the number of BRT systems increases, it is important to have current, accurate, and complete information about existing and planned systems.

The development of an online database was a joint data-sharing effort. EMBARQ and ALC-BRT CoE collected data mostly from Latin America, and the IEA contributed data from other regions.

“Previously, there was no single point of publicly accessible information about the worldwide BRT industry, and it was especially difficult to get an assessment of the industry’s size and how it was changing over time,” ALC-BRT CoE Director Juan Carlos Munoz said. “We finally have the right tools to set standards for this dynamic industry.”

Using information from this dataset, the IEA has estimated the energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) benefits of BRT implementation, and outlined several CO2-mitigation scenarios that rely in part on modal shift from light duty vehicles to public transit, including BRT. The IEA plans to recognize the extensive potential of BRT in its upcoming biennial report, “Energy Technology Perspectives 2012,” calling for the total network length of BRT systems to double by 2020.

“BRT is growing in importance as a transit alternative,” said Tali Trigg, energy analyst, IEA. “This database will be helpful to planners, and is an essential component in calculating energy efficient scenarios which inform decision makers of practical ways of transitioning to a more secure, sustainable and affordable energy future.”

Following are just a few examples of the data that is available from the new website:

Worldwide, 129 new corridors have been implemented since 2000, and 37 since 2010.
Latin American systems move more than 50 percent of global BRT daily passenger trips.
25 Brazilian cities have 87 bus corridors, totaling more than 560 kilometers– more than any other country.
18 of Asia’s 24 BRT systems began operations since 2006.
Systems in 13 U.S. cities together carry nearly 600,000 passenger trips each day.

Experts from the three organizations will be participating in a webinar on Tuesday, April 10, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Register here to participate: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/949999098.

Watch a screencast tutorial on how to use new website: http://youtu.be/KJU-fWvSBY0.

# # #

EMBARQ catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. To date, EMBARQ has supported the planning, implementation, and evaluation of BRT systems in at least 14 cities. www.embarq.org

Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit (ALC-BRT) Centre of Excellence works as a consortium of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Technical University of Lisbon, The University of Sydney and EMBARQ. It develops new frameworks for planning, design, financing, implementing and operating bus based transit systems in different urban areas. www.brt.cl

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous organization, which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. www.iea.org

Additional Resources

Visit the website: http://BRTdata.org
Webinar April 10, 12:00 p.m. EDT. Hear expert commentary from EMBARQ Director of Research and Practice Dario Hidalgo, ALC-BRT CoE Director Juan Carlos Muñoz, and IEA Energy Analyst Tali Trigg. Register now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/949999098
Watch videos of BRT systems around the world: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9C8FFA2249C3B7DA

Watch a Screencast Tutorial of the new BRTdata website

[Top]

WRI’s Manish Bapna to Participate in VERGE DC Keynote Panel

James Anderson — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:03:31 -0500

On Wednesday, March 14, WRI’s Interim President, Manish Bapna, will be participating in a keynote panel discussion at the VERGE DC conference in Washington, D.C. hosted by Greenbiz.

The panel discussion, Cities as a Catalyst for Sustainability, will focus on how to develop smart sustainable cities by integrating emerging technologies, developing public-private partnerships, and radically improving city efficiencies.

Bapna will be joined by Daryl Dulaney, President and CEO of Siemens Industry. Mark Lee, Executive Director of SustainAbility, will moderate the discussion.

For more than a decade, WRI has been developing innovative approaches to sustainable urbanization. Recently, the Caterpillar Foundation announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to WRI to advance the progress of environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

Please find more information about the panel below and at the VERGE DC website.

WHAT
VERGE DC Keynote Panel

WHO
Manish Bapna Interim President, World Resources Institute
Daryl Dulaney President and CEO, Siemens Industry
Moderated by Mark Lee Executive Director, SustainAbility

WHEN
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
5:25 - 5:55 p.m.

WHERE
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA 22202

RSVP
Registration information available here.

To set up media interviews with Manish Bapna, please contact Michael Oko, Tel. (202) 729-7684; moko@wri.org.

MEDIA ALERT: Launch of New Report on Auto-Rickshaws in India

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:05:08 -0500

Sustainable Urban Transport in India: Role of the Auto-Rickshaw Sector

Background

Across India, auto-rickshaws are becoming an increasingly important part of urban transport in cities. Currently, the number of auto-rickshaws in India ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 in medium-sized cities (population between 1 and 4 million) to more than 50,000 in large cities (population greater than 4 million). Now, the World Resources Institute and EMBARQ are releasing the most comprehensive report ever on auto-rickshaws.

The report, “Sustainable Urban Transport in India: Role of the Auto-rickshaw Sector,” by Akshay Mani, Madhav Pai and Rishi Aggarwal, examines the role auto-rickshaws play in promoting public transport usage and reducing private motor vehicle trips in cities. The report also provides a policy vision for the auto-rickshaw sector that improves sustainable urban transport in India.

The publication highlights the need for regulatory reforms to promote dispatch services and vehicle-related reforms to address emissions and road safety. Adopting these reforms is key to ensuring that auto-rickshaws contribute to a more efficient, clean and safe transport system.

Statement by Akshay Mani, Project Manager – Urban Transport, EMBARQ India

“Given the current urban transport trends and challenges, such as rising emissions and road fatalities, there is a critical need to promote more sustainable transport options in India. Implementing the recommended reforms – such as the promotion of fleet-based dispatch services and vehicle improvements – will be key to ensure that auto-rickshaws can serve as an effective alternative to private motor vehicles. These reforms are essential to mitigate the environmental and road safety challenges that currently exist in this sector.”

Key Facts

Market size of auto-rickshaws varies from around 15,000 to 30,000 vehicles in Tier II cities (population between 1 and 4 million) to more than 50,000 in Tier I cities (population greater than 4 million). Mumbai has the largest market with around 150,000 auto-rickshaws.
Auto-rickshaws serve between 10-20 percent of daily motorized road transport trips for people in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Rajkot.
Production of auto-rickshaws in India has doubled between 2003 and 2010.
High concentration of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) in Indian cities is a key public health issue. Auto-rickshaws running on two-stroke engines are a major contributor to PM10 emissions.
Contrary to popular belief, auto-rickshaws are the second safest motorized mode of travel (after buses) for pedestrians, in terms of contribution to fatalities, in both Mumbai and Bangalore.
However, safety of auto-rickshaw occupants is a key issue of concern, due to mixed-flow traffic conditions in Indian cities as well as current vehicle design aspects, which needs to be addressed urgently.
Meanwhile, the population of Indian cities will grow from an estimated 340 million in 2008 to 590 million by 2030.

Resources

The publication is available online at: http://www.embarq.org/en/sustainable-urban-transport-india-role-auto-rickshaw-sector

Read blog posts by Akshay Mani at: http://thecityfix.com/blog/author/akshay142

Watch and link to videos at: www.embarq.org/multimedia

Mumbai Rickshaws: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/cities-focus-mumbai-rickshaws
Vikram: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/snapshot-vikram
Vatsala: http://www.embarq.org/en/video/snapshot-vatsala

The report will be launched Friday, February 10, at Rickshaw Rising – An Auto-rickshaw Entrepreneurship Summit, in Mumbai, India: http://www.embarq.org/en/events/12/02/rickshaw-rising

For more information about the launch or to set up interviews, contact:
Erica Schlaikjer, EMBARQ, Media Relations Coordinator, (202) 729-7722, eschlaikjer@wri.org; or
Lauren Zelin, WRI, Senior Press Officer, (202) 729-7736; lzelin@wri.org

Sustainable Urban Transport in India: Role of the Auto-rickshaw Sector

Kevin Lustig — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:50:16 -0500

Demand for the Auto-rickshaw

Study Objective and Approach

As the demand for urban transport increases in India, so too does the popularity of the autorickshaw. Production of this type of motorized three-wheeler has doubled between 2003 and 2010. In major Indian cities, it is responsible for a significant share of motorized trips. Strategies to improve urban transport must include a policy vision for this increasingly important sector. To that end, this paper examines the role the auto-rickshaw sector can play in promoting sustainable urban transport in India. It develops a policy vision for this sector and presents recommendations on reforms to address sustainability challenges.

The Avoid-Shift-Improve (ASI) framework, one of the key approaches to promote sustainable urban transport, is the basis of this study. The ASI framework is based on three key strategies: (1) avoid unnecessary trips, (2) shift to more sustainable transport modes, and (3) improve performance in all modes (Dalkmann and Brannigan 2007). In assessing the role of the auto-rickshaw sector in promoting sustainable urban transport, this paper looks specifically at how auto-rickshaws can contribute to Shift and Improve strategies, using a two-pronged approach:

Examination of the role of the type of service (contract carriage) provided by auto-rickshaws in promoting sustainable urban transport, as part of the Shift strategy;
Assessment of the need for improvements in the type of vehicle (motorized three-wheeler) in the auto-rickshaw sector to promote sustainable urban transport, as part of the Improve strategy.

Role of Auto-rickshaw Sector in Promoting Sustainable Urban Transport

Role of the Type of Service (Contract Carriage)

The findings from this study indicate that auto-rickshaw services in cities can help meet the objectives of the Shift strategy—of promoting public transport and reducing private motorization—based on the following aspects:

First and last mile connectivity to public transport: Auto-rickshaw services, integrated as a feeder mode providing such connectivity, can complement public transport systems by ensuring that all parts of the city have easy access to public transport stations.
Door-to-door transport alternative to private motor vehicles: The door-to-door on-demand service provided by auto-rickshaws will ensure that transport needs requiring door-to-door connectivity, such as occasional trips to the airport or emergency trips for health care, can be met in cities without having to rely on private motor vehicles.

Vehicle Performance and Need for Improvements

This paper assesses the performance of the motorized three-wheeler (auto-rickshaw) in Indian cities with respect to two important sustainability parameters—emissions and road safety—to identify current challenges and areas for vehicle-related reforms that can improve performance:

Emissions: A key challenge in the autorickshaw sector is its emissions of particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns (PM10). PM10 are known to have adverse impacts on health, and the conventional two-stroke engine auto-rickshaws prevalent in many cities are major sources of these emissions (Shah and Iyer 2004).
Road Safety: The paper looks at the impact of the auto-rickshaw sector on the safety of both city pedestrians and the rickshaws’ occupants (driver and passengers). Research conducted by EMBARQ India using pedestrian fatality data for Mumbai and Bangalore shows that autorickshaws lead to fewer fatal pedestrian accidents than do motorized two-wheelers and cars. This is likely a result of their lower speeds and lighter weights (Mohan and Roy 2003). There are concerns for the safety of auto-rickshaw occupants, however, particularly in multivehicle collisions (ones between auto-rickshaws and other motor vehicles). A study of auto-rickshaw injury patterns in Hyderabad revealed that multivehicle collisions were the leading cause of injury for auto-rickshaw occupants (Schmucker et al. 2009).

The Way Forward for the Autorickshaw Sector in Indian Cities

Policy Vision

The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, is the key guiding policy at the national level focusing on urban transport in India (MoUD 2006). With the underlying rationale of people-based transport planning, the NUTP framework focuses on planning and investments in public transport and nonmotorized transport (NMT) systems in cities.

To meet the objectives of the NUTP, the findings from this study highlight the need for an overarching policy vision for the auto-rickshaw sector in urban transport (Figure E.1) based on the Shift and Improve strategies of the ASI framework to promote sustainable urban transport.

Reform Needs and Next Steps

In accordance with the policy vision, the following regulatory and vehicle-related reforms will help ensure that the auto-rickshaw sector supports public transport and provides alternatives to private vehicles, while addressing the sustainability challenges of emissions and road safety:

Ensure Availability of Dispatch Services: Auto-rickshaw services in the majority of Indian cities are provided by individual owner-operators rather than by fleet companies. The lack of organization makes it difficult to provide dispatch (dial-a-rickshaw) services. This needs to be addressed through regulatory reforms that enable fleet-based operations with dispatch services to enter the auto-rickshaw sector.
- These regulatory reforms should be pursued by State transport departments, which are the nodal regulatory agencies for the auto-rickshaw sector.
Reduce Emissions: Findings from this study highlight that improvements in engine technology (moving from two-stroke to four-stroke engines) is potentially the best approach to reduce PM10 emissions from the auto-rickshaw sector. Four-stroke engines have lower PM10, hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than two-stroke engines (Shah and Iyer 2004). Further, four-stroke engines can reduce PM10 emissions by running on compressed natural gas (CNG) and other alternatives to gasoline (Reynolds, Grieshop and Kandlikar, 2011). However, higher oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from four-stroke engines need to be addressed through reforms in current emission standards.
- The engine and fuel-related reforms should be pursued by State transport departments as the nodal regulatory agencies.
- The needed reforms in emission standards are the adoption of separate emission standards for HC and NOx emissions, instead of the current combined (HC + NOx) standard. These reforms should be pursued by the Standing Committee on Implementation of Emissions Legislation set up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for emissions legislation (SIAM 2011b).
Improve Road Safety: Vehicle design improvements such as seat belts and padding on stiff surfaces (Schmucker et al. 2009) have been noted as key reform needs to improve occupant safety in multivehicle collisions. Further, infrastructure interventions such as dedicated lanes for auto-rickshaws, narrow lanes, and speed tables on urban roads to reduce average speeds will reduce the risk of occurrence of multivehicle collisions.
- Vehicle design improvements, through reforms in current motor vehicle safety regulations, should be pursued by the Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) (SIAM 2011b) set up by MoRTH for motor vehicle safety regulations.
- Infrastructure interventions to improve autorickshaw occupant safety should be pursued by City governments as part of their citywide road safety enhancement strategies.