Latest Publications

 

Trends in the Transport Sector 1970-2008.  Click to connect to the OECD online bookshop Trends in the Transport Sector. 1970-2008

How have the passenger and freight transport sectors evolved in recent years? And what about road safety? This publication presents the most up-to-date statistics on transport markets in International Transport Forum countries for the period 1970-2008, including charts to highlight the major trends

This brochure provides the reader with first-hand figures on key transport trends. Data are also provided on air and maritime transport as well as on investment and maintenance expenditures undertaken in the transport sector..


88 pages; OECD, Paris, June 2010
€25.00 ;  $35.00;  £22.00 ;  ¥3 200
ISBN 978-92-821-0271-8
   
   
Transport Outlook 2010. The Potential for Innovation.   Click to download Transport Outlook 2010. The Potential for Innovation

Growing population, increasing urbanisation and higher incomes will boost demand for transport and put great pressure on transport systems around the globe. This is one of the key findings of Transport Outlook 2010

According to research by the ITF/OECD’s Joint Transport Research Centre, the current crisis has had a relatively greater impact on trade and transport than previous economic downturns. This is reflected in very large volume and price effects, especially in freight transport. For the management of future greenhouse gas emissions from transport, the analysis strongly suggests that technologies to improve fuel economy and ultimately transform the energy basis of transport are the key.

28 pages; ITF, Paris, May 2010
Free
   
   
Transport Outlook 2010. The Potential for Innovation.   Click to download Key Transport Statistics 2009

Published earlier than comparable studies, these statistics provide the most recent figures on selected transport variables in the Forum countries and they throw light on transport activities during 2009.

This edition covers the impact of the global economic crisis on freight transport in ITF countries. It also contains 2009 data for national and international rail freight transport, passenger transport by rail, national and international road freight transport, road traffic, brand-new vehicle registrations, road fuel deliveries, road fatalities, national and international freight transport by inland waterways as well as statistics on countries' imports and imports in euros..

4 pages; ITF, Paris, May 2010
Free
   
   
Reducing Transport Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Trends and Data. 2010.  Click to download Reducing Transport Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Trends and Data. 2010

This report provides a brief update of greenhouse gas emission trends from the transport sector and discusses the outcome of the United Nations Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change held in December 2009 in Copenhagen. It is based on material collected for the OECD-ITF Joint Transport Research Committee's Working Group report on GHG emission reduction strategies which will be released later in 2010.

The report besides providing data on Co2 emissions of ITF Member Countries also includes data on certain non-ITF economies.

94 pages; ITF, Paris, May 2010
Free
   
   
Improving Reliability on Surface Transport Networks.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Improving Reliability on Surface Transport Networks

Passengers and freight shippers alike want reliable transport services. Surprisingly, little research has been undertaken in incorporating reliability into the assessment of transport projects despite the increasing importance of scheduling in economic activities.

This report provides policy makers with a framework to understand reliability issues, to incorporate reliability into project assessment and to design reliability management policies. It also explores a range of reliability performance measures. Case studies across OECD and ITF countries provide examples of several core policy tools that can be used to deliver more reliable networks in a cost-effective manner.

The report makes significant progress in identifying appropriate methodology for incorporating reliability into policy and project evaluation, as well as exploring the pitfalls that need to be avoided.

Summary Document


164 pages; OECD, Paris, May 2010
€50.00 ;  $67.00;  £42.00 ;  ¥6 200
ISBN 978-92-821-0241-1
   
   
The Future for Interurban Passenger Transport: Bringing citizens Closer Together..  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop The Future for Interurban Passenger Transport: Bringing citizens Closer Together.
18th International ITF/OECD Symposium on Transport Economics and Policy

Economic growth, trade and the concentration of population in large cities will intensify demand for interurban transport services. Concurrently, the need to manage environmental impacts effectively will increase. How successful we are in coping with demand will depend on our ability to innovate, to manage congestion, and to improve the quality of transport services. Technological and regulatory innovation will shape the future of transport.

These conference proceedings bring together ideas from leading transport researchers from around the world related to the future for interurban passenger transport A first set of papers investigates what drives demand for interurban passenger transport and infers how it may evolve in the future. The remaining papers investigate transport policy issues that emerge as key challenges: when to invest in high-speed rail, how to regulate to ensure efficient operation, how to assign infrastructure to different types of users, and how to control transport’s environmental footprint by managing modal split and improving modal performance.

556 pages; OECD, Paris, May 2010
€140 ;  $196 ;  £126 ;  ¥18.200
ISBN 978-92-821-0265-7
   
   
Effective Transport Policies for Corporate Mobility Management.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Effective Transport Policies for Corporate Mobility Management

Many companies and other large employers have put in place initiatives to address the traffic-related nuisances generated by their activities and, in particular, the traffic generated by their workers and customers

Such Corporate Mobility Management (CMM) initiatives are the focus of this report which investigates success factors in individual best practice cases at the company level as well as the roles, if any, public authorities can play in facilitating the uptake of CMM

The report provides guidance to governments on effective strategies for addressing and mitigating the traffic generated by commuter and customer travel.

108 pages; OECD, Paris, April 2010
€35.00 ;  $47.00;  £29.00 ;  ¥4 300
ISBN 978-92-821-0249-7
   
   
Integration and Competition between Transport and Logistics Businesses. Round Table 146.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Integration and Competition between Transport and Logistics Businesses. Round Table 146

Some very large multinational transport and logistics firms have emerged to provide integrated transport services to shippers in the globalised economy. Do these firms escape regulatory oversight from national competition authorities because of their sheer scale? Do they pose additional threats to competition when they merge with or acquire other companies in the supply chain?

The Round Table brought competition experts together with researchers on maritime shipping, rail freight and logistics to identify critical competition issues and appropriate regulatory responses. An examination of the strategies of transport and logistics companies reveals that vertical integration can yield efficiencies but usually reflects a need to improve the use of expensive fixed assets rather than control all parts of the supply chain. This usually explains why shipping lines acquire terminal operators. Horizontal acquisitions, where similar companies serving the same market merge, are more likely to raise competition concerns. Problems are particularly prone to arise at bottleneck infrastructure facilities.

The Round Table report provides an economic framework for examining competition in global transport and logistics businesses, it discusses the adequacy of the remedies available to regulators when competition is threatened and explores the role of competition authorities and Transport Ministries in ensuring markets are efficient.

Summary and Conclusions

184 pages; OECD, Paris, March 2010
€65 ;  $91 ;  £58 ;  ¥6.400
ISBN 978-92-821-0259-6
   
   
Highlights of the International Transport Forum 2009. Transport for a Global Economy: Challenges & Opportunities in the Downturn.  Click to download Highlights of the International Transport Forum 2009
Transport for a Global Economy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Downturn


The International Transport Forum 2009 took place at a very difficult time, with finances drying up, companies failing, supply chains weakened, and protectionism on the increase. There are real fears that the transport sector will be seriously damaged by this sudden and profound downturn, with important implications for economies and societies. One certainty is that transport is more important than it has ever been - in business, in the lives of citizens and in the world economy.

The transport sector is at the heart of globalisation. At the same time it is clear that the crisis does not alter fundamental challenges, particularly for transport to be more sustainable and show more concrete results in the lead up to and after the December 2009 UN limate Change Conference in Copenhagen. This publication condenses the main findings of workshops and round tables bringing together leading figure from politics, industry, research and civil society on key questions linking transport, economic recovery, global trade flows and sustainable development.

110 pages; OECD, Paris, December 2009
Free  --  also available in German
   
   
Road Safety: Recommendations from Ministers.  Click to download Road Safety: Recommendations from Ministers

This CD-ROM contains the Recommendations and Resolutions adopted by Ministers of ECMT (predecessor of ITF) countries over a period of 30 years. It also contains two reports used as a basis for Ministerial discussions on the adoption and on the mid-term review of the target of reducing road fatalities by 50% in Europe by 2012.

The transport sector is at the heart of globalisation. At the same time it is clear that the crisis does not alter fundamental challenges, particularly for transport to be more sustainable and show more concrete results in the lead up to and after the December 2009 UN limate Change Conference in Copenhagen. This publication condenses the main findings of workshops and round tables bringing together leading figure from politics, industry, research and civil society on key questions linking transport, economic recovery, global trade flows and sustainable development.

CD-ROM; November 2009
Free
   
   
Competitive Interaction between Airports, Airlines and High-Speed Rail. Round Table 145.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Competitive Interaction between Airports, Airlines and High-Speed Rail. Round Table 145

How should airports be regulated to contain market power? This report first examines whether they need to be regulated at all. It concluded that because regulation is inevitably imperfect and costly, policy makers should establish conditions for competition to emerge between airports in preference to comprehensive regulation, whenever possible.

Economic regulation is sometimes necessary, such as when airports are heavily congested. The report determines which approaches are likely to work best and also assesses strategies for managing greenhouse gas emissions. It finds that although including aviation in an open emission trading scheme could help mitigate emissions efficiently across the economy, it should not be expected to produce major cuts in CO2 emissions in aviation itself.

Finally the report identifies the economic conditions under which high-speed rail can provide a competitive substitute for aviation, revealing the limited relevance of rail to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from this part of the transport market.

Summary and Conclusions

208 pages; OECD, Paris, November 2009
€70 ;  $94 ;  £59 ;  ¥8.700
ISBN 978-92-821-0245-9
   
   
Port Competition and Hinterland Connections. Round Table 143.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Port Competition and Hinterland Connections. Round Table 143

This Round Table discusses the policy and regulatory challenges posed by the rapidly changing port environment.

The sector has changed tremendously in recent decades with technological and organisational innovation and a powerful expansion of trade. Although ports serve hinterlands that now run deep into continents, competition among ports is increasingly intense and their bargaining power in the supply chain has consequently weakened. Integration of supply-chain operations on a global scale has greatly increased productivity but raises issues of both competition and sustainability.

Concentration among shipping lines and terminal operators may generate market power. National competition authorities have the power to address this but might not fully appreciate the international dimension. Greater port throughput meets with decreasing resistance from local communities because of pollution and congestion. In addition, local regulation is warranted but made difficult by the distribution of bargaining power among stakeholders. Higher-level authorities could develop more effective policies.

Summary and Conclusions

176 pages; OECD, Paris, July 2009
€52 ;  $69.60;  £44 ;  ¥6480
ISBN 978-92-821-0224-4
   
   
Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics.  Click to download Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics

The present fourth edition is the result of continuing valuable cooperation between three organisations (Eurostat, UNECE and ITF), that - through the action of the Intersecretariat Working Group (IWG Trans.) - have put a sustained effort into meeting the need to harmonise transport statistics at the international level.

The Glossary now comprises 735 definitions and represents a point of reference for all those involved in transport statistics. By following the guidance contained within these definitions, a considerable contribution will be given to the improvement in both the quality and comparability of the data.

183 pages; Eurostat/UNECE/ITF, July 2009
Electronic version available  -  Paperback to be published shortly
Free
   
   
Trends in the Transport Sector 1970-2007.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Trends in the Transport Sector 1970-2007

How have the passenger and freight transport sectors evolved in recent years? And what about road safety? This publication presents the most up-to-date statistics on transport markets in International Transport Forum countries for the period 1970-2007, including charts to highlight the major trends.

Published earlier than comparable studies, this brochure provides the reader with first-hand figures on key transport trends. Data are provided on air and maritime transport as well as on investment and maintenance expenditures undertaken in the transport sector.

All the data is available free as tables

80 pages; OECD, Paris, June 2009
€25 ;  $33;  £21 ;  ¥3 100
ISBN 978-92-821-0159-9
   
   
Truck Parking Areas 2009.  Click to download Truck Parking Areas 2009

This brochure presents the list of truck parking areas in 44 countries, on the Euro-Asian Continent, with their addresses, phone and fax numbers, access to the parking area, tariffs and facilities available.

144 pages; IRU/ITF, May 2009
Multilingual: English, French, German, Russian
Free
   
   
Terrorism and International Transport: Towards Risk-Based Security Policy. Round Table 144.   Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Terrorism and International Transport: Towards Risk-Based Security Policy. Round Table 144

Security is critical to transport systems as they are often appealing targets for terrorist attacks. The significant costs of potential damage make effective security policies a key concern for transport decision makers. This Round Table examines the contribution economic analysis can make to improving security.

The analysis covers the impact of uncertainty in assessing security policies and on the cost effectiveness of security measures in aviation and maritime shipping. Much can be criticised in current policies, which are often seen as unduly expensive and inadequately assessed. This Round Table identifies methods for quantifying the benefits of security measures and assessing their effectiveness, and examines techniques to allocate resources to targeting the highest risks. Applying these techniques would achieve better levels of security with current resources.

Summary and Conclusions

150 pages; OECD, Paris, May 2009
€50 ;  $67;  £42 ;  ¥6200
ISBN 978-92-821-0231-2
   
   
Intermodal Transport. National Peer Review: Turkey.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Intermodal Transport. National Peer Review: Turkey

Turkey is growing fast, owing mainly to rapidly increasing trade. In order to facilitate this trade, efficient logistics and transport services are crucial. Yet Turkey is at an early stage in developing sophisticated and modern logistic services and at present is too dependent on road transport. This book argues that Turkey's continuing economic expansion depends on the diversification of its transport modes and especially on the development of efficient multimodal services.

Turkey's role as a hub for Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and as a facilitator of global exchange will be enhanced with a strategy and measures to support a range of intermodal logistic and transport services. This work analyses the current situation and sets forth some of the actions and policies needed to stimulate the development of a truly multimodal transport system.

Summary Document  --  also available in Turkish

168 pages; OECD, Paris, April 2009
€50 ;  $67;  £42 ;  ¥6200
ISBN 978-92-821-0222-0
   
   
Cognitive Impairment, Mental Health and Transport.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Cognitive Impairment, Mental Health and Transport.

This is one of the first publications to deal with international transport policy issues related to cognitive impairment and mental health. It aims to help those who plan, design and run transport systems and infrastructure to understand and find practical solutions to these issues for the benefit of the travelling public as a whole.

29 pages; OECD, Paris, January 2009
€17 ;  $24;  £13 ;  ¥2500
ISBN 978-92-821-0216-9
   
   
Charges for the use of rail infrastructure  Charges for the Use of Rail Infrastructure 2008.

Over the last few years, much progress has been made in developing rail charges to ensure non-discriminatory access to, and efficient use of national rail networks in Europe.

This report updates the ECMT report "Railway Reform and Charges for the Use of Infrastructure" published in 2005.



62 pages; + Excel Table; Paris, December 2008
Free
   
   
The Cost and Effectiveness of Policies to Reduce Vehicle Emissions.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop The Cost and Effectiveness of Policies to Reduce Vehicle Emissions.  Round Table 142

Transport sector policies already contribute to moderating greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles. They are increasingly designed to contribute overall societal targets to mitigate climate change. While abatement costs in transport are relatively high, there are plausible arguments in favour of further abatement in this sector.

Fuel taxes are a good instrument. Fuel economy standards are potentially justified because of the limited performance of markets in terms of improving fuel economy. The empirical basis to decide upon combinations of fuel economy standards and fuel taxes, however, remain weak.

This Round Table investigates the effectiveness and costs of various mitigation options in road transport, and discusses the distribution of abatement efforts across sectors of the economy.

Summary and Conclusions

180 pages; OECD, Paris, January 2009
€65 ;  $92;  £50 ;  ¥9 700
ISBN 978-92-821-0212-1
   
   
2008 Forum Highlights. Transport and Energy: The Challenge of Climate Change.  Click to download Highlights of the International Transport Forum 2008
Transport and Energy: The Challenge of Climate Change


The transport sector is a significant contributor to Greenhouse Gas Emissions in most countries, representing 23% (worldwide) and 30% (OECD) of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2005. Automobile transport is the principal CO2 emitter, but other transport modes also impact global warming - sometimes significantly as in case of aviation and maritime transport. Growth in transport sector emissions has typically mirrored growth in economic wealth and has kept pace with or even surpassed growth of emissions from the energy sector. Because of this, it is likely that most countries will have to include the transport sector in achieving future greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

A defining milestone in these discussions, the International Transport Forum 2008 gathered over 800 policy-makers, researchers and industry stakeholders in Leipzig for a cycle of roundtables on cost-effective technology and policy instruments required to improve energy efficiency and curb carbon emissions across transport modes. This publication condenses the main findings of these roundtables and provides access to research work carried out by the Forum in such areas as biofuels, ecodriving, the impact of high energy prices and the effectiveness of fuel efficiency policies.

72 pages; OECD, Paris, November 2008
Free
   
   
Privatisation and Regulation of Urban Transit Systems.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Privatisation and Regulation of Urban Transit Systems.  Round Table 141

Urban public transport services generally run at a large deficit. This has led public authorities to seek efficiencies, notably through private sector involvement. Private entry is complicated by the essential network characteristics of public transport, with parts of the network potentially profitable and others perennially unprofitable.

Support for the sector traditionally seeks to provide basic mobility services to all segments of society, including low-income users. Intervention is also required to manage the natural tendency towards concentration and market power in the provision of these transport services. Policy towards urban public transport is increasingly aimed at managing congestion on the roads and mitigating CO2 emissions by substituting for travel by car. The sprawl of cities complicates the regulatory environment as responsibilities tend to be split among different institutional levels.

Achieving coherent transport networks that are efficient and financially sustainable is a challenge for any public authority. This Round Table examines experience in integrating private management and capital with public transport policy objectives in a number of developed economies. For network operators, the Round Table concludes that innovation is the key to surviving the rapidly changing policy and regulatory environment.

152 pages; OECD, Paris, October 2008
€50 ;  $77;  £39 ;  ¥8 000
ISBN 978-92-821-0199-5
   
   
Towards Zero: Ambitious Road Safety Targets and the Safe System Approach.  Click to download Towards Zero: Ambitious Road Safety Targets and the Safe System Approach

Each year around 1.2 million people are killed and 50 million are injured on roads around the world. But crashes are largely preventable and much can be done to reduce the burden of pain they cause and their economic impact.

Many countries have set targets to reduce the number of casualties on their roads. Are these countries on track to meet their targets? What can be done in the immediate and longer term to achieve these targets? Is there a limit to traditional approaches to road safety?

This report takes stock of recent developments and initiatives to meet increasingly ambitious road safety targets. It highlights the management changes required in many countries to implement effective interventions. It emphasises a strong focus on results and examines the economic case for road safety investment. It challenges the better performing countries to do more and strongly recommends the adoption of a Safe System approach with a long-term vision of no fatalities on the roads.

Summary Document also available in Spanish
Russian Version

242 pages; OECD, Paris, October 2008
Free
   
   
Benefiting from Globalisation. 17th International Symposium Benefiting from Globalisation. Transport Sector Contribution and Policy Challenges
17th International ITF/OECD Symposium on Transport Economics and Policy

Transport is at the heart of globalisation, indeed the term would be meaningless without the ability to move goods and people around the planet. The opportunities for individuals and businesses to benefit from globalisation are increased by efficient, cost-effective transport networks. A competitive, responsive, well-organised transport sector facilitates trade, but creating the conditions for this poses policy challenges that must be tackled if transport is to contribute fully to globalisation.

This was the theme of the 17th ITF/OECD Symposium. The discussions were organised around five sub-themes, drawing on 17 introductory reports covering fields ranging from "data and trends" to issues relating to "transport policy and regional integration".

Over 300 experts participated in the Symposium and contributed to the discussions. This publication includes all of the introductory reports and a summary of these discussions.

450 pages; OECD, Paris, September 2008
€130 ;  $200;  £101 ;  ¥20 800
ISBN 978-92-821-0168-1
   
   
The Wider Economic Benefits of Transport.  Click to access OECD Online Bookshop The Wider Economic Benefits of Transport
Macro-, Meso- and Micro-Economic Transport Planning and Investment Tools

Round Table 140

The standard cost-benefit analysis of transport infrastructure investment projects weighs a project's costs against users' benefits. This approach has been challenged on the grounds that it ignores wider economic impacts of such projects. Since there is empirical evidence that these effects can be substantial, relying on the standard approach potentially produces misleading results.

At the International Transport Forum Round Table, leading academics and practitioners addressed these concerns and examined a range of potential approaches for evaluating wider impacts - negative as well as positive. They concluded that for smaller projects, it is better to focus on timely availability of results, even if this means forgoing sophisticated analysis of wider impacts. For larger projects or investment programs, customized analysis of these effects is more easily justifiable. Creating consistent appraisal procedures is a research priority.

Summary and Conclusions

208 pages; OECD, Paris, July 2008
€75 ;  $116 ;  £54 ;  ¥10.400
ISBN 978-92-821-0160-5
   
   
Trends in the Transport Sector 1970-2006
							Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Trends in the Transport Sector 1970-2006

How have the passenger and freight transport sectors evolved in recent years? And what about road safety? This publication presents the most up-to-date statistics on transport markets in International Transport Forum countries for the period 1970-2006, including charts to highlight the major trends.

Published earlier than comparable studies, this brochure provides the reader with first-hand figures on key transport trends. For the first time, data are provided on air and maritime transport as well as on investment and maintenance expenditures undertaken in the transport sector.

All the data is available free as tables

77 pages; OECD, Paris, June 2008
€24 ;  $37;  £17 ;  ¥3 300
ISBN 978-92-821-1263-2
   
   
Transport Outlook 2008.  Focusing on Co2 Emissions from Road Vehicles. Click to download Transport Outlook 2008: Focusing on CO2 Emissions from Road Vehicles
Discussion Paper 2008-13

This short outlook is designed to test the potential for key policy instruments for mitigating emissions from road transport, and particularly from light duty vehicles, the largest source of CO2 emissions from transport. It also examines uncertainties in the baseline scenario for the development of Co2 emissions from the sector.



Paris, May 2008
Free
   
   
Key Transport Statistics 2007.  Click to download Key Transport Statistics 2007

Published earlier than comparable studies, these statistics provide the most recent figures on selected transport variables in the Forum countries and they throw light on transport activities during 2007.

This leaflet contains 2007 data for national and international rail freight transport, passenger transport by rail, national and international road freight transport, road traffic, brand-new vehicle registrations, road fuel deliveries, road fatalities, national and international freight transport by inland waterways as well as statistics on countries' imports and imports in euros.

Paris, May 2008
Free
   
   
Round Table 139: Oil Dependence: Is Transport Running Out of Affordable Fuel?
							Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Oil Dependence: Is Transport Running Out of Affordable Fuel? Round Table 139

Oil consumption is increasingly concentrated in transport, and relatively limited fluctuations in transport demand can have increasingly significant effects on oil prices. Oil prices rose to all time highs at the beginning of 2008, exceeding $100 a barrel for the first time since the 1979 oil crisis. The underlying driver was demand for oil from rapidly developing economies and especially China, where transport accounts for the largest part of oil consumption.
OPEC market power is increasing as production of conventional oil outside OPEC has reached a plateau. Oil from tar sands in Canada and elsewhere is available in very large quantities, and is competitive at sustained prices above $40 a barrel. But processing such oil doubles CO2 emissions on a well-to-wheels basis compared to using conventional oil to fuel transport.

This Round Table assesses the policy instruments available to address oil security and climate change and examines their interaction with measures to manage congestion and mitigate local air pollution. A number of incompatibilities and trade-offs are identified underlining the importance of integrated policy-making.

This report includes an examination of the factors that drive oil prices in the short and long term and a discussion of the outlook for oil supply.

Summary and Conclusions

210 pages; OECD, Paris, May 2008
€75 ;  $116 ;  £54 ;  ¥10.400
ISBN 978-92-821-0121-6
   
   
Long-Life Surfaces for Busy Roads. 
							Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Long-life Surfaces for Busy Roads

Long-life surfaces could substantially cut the costs of road works, including the delays they cause, especially on congested routes with heavy traffic. These surfaces use new materials that cost more than conventional asphalt and require special handling.

This report presents the results of collaborative research to evaluate the technical and economic potential of the most promising long-life surfaces and assist governments in weighing up the risks and advantages of introducing them on busy roads.

Summary Document

186 pages; OECD, Paris, May 2008
€60.00 ;  $78.00;  £43.00 ;  ¥8 300
ISBN 978-92-821-0158-2
   
   
Round Table 138: Biofuels: Linking Support to Performance. 
							Click to access OECD Online Bookshop Biofuels: Linking Support to Performance. Round Table 138

Biofuels received USD 15 billion in subsidies on OECD Member countries in 2007, but did they deliver benefits in terms of climate change or oil security? Present policies make no link between support for biofuels and their environmental performance, and biofuels do not all perform equally well. In fact, much of the current ethanol and biodiesel production may result in higher overall emissions of greenhouse gases than using conventional transport fuels - gasoline and diesel. The papers published in this report examine the economics of biofuels and assess the potential of conventional biofuel production in OECD countries, Brazilian ethanol exports and some second generation biofuels to supply world markets with transport fuels.

This Round Table analyses the critical issues for governments in determining support for biofuels, particularly the level of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of these fuels and the wider environmental impacts of farming biomass. It also reviews recent progress in developing certification systems for biofuels - an essential tool for tying support to achievement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, although certification cannot be expected to prevent rainforest destruction for the development of biofuels crop plantations. The report concludes with a short list of recommendations for policy reform if support for biofuels is to contribute effectively to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

Summary and Conclusions

224 pages; OECD, Paris, March 2008
€75 ;  $105 ;  £54 ;  ¥10 400
ISBN 978-92-821-0179-7
   
   
Workshop on Ecodriving, Paris, 22-23 November 2007. Click to download  Workshop on Ecodriving. Paris, 22-23 November 2007
Workshop Findings and Messages for Policy Makers

The Workshop on Ecodriving provided a valuable opportunity to review current experience around the world in implementing and promoting ecodriving. The Workshop, organized by the International Transport Forum, the International Energy Agency, the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Water Management and the ECODRIVEN platform, brought together around 100 ecodriving experts, policy makers, researchers and stakeholders to discuss recent developments in the field from Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, and South America. It reviewed some of the successful practice in integrating ecodriving into national policies.

The two day meeting explored national strategies, policies to promote ecodriving in different modes, communication campaigns and partnership programs as well as issues of measuring, monitoring and evaluating ecodriving initiatives. Workshop presentations and conclusions are available at the IEA and the International Transport Forum websites.

6 pages; March 2008
Free
   
   
Transport Infrastructure Investment. Options for Efficiency.  
							Click to access OECD Online Bookshop  Transport Infrastructure Investment. Options for Efficiency

Surface transport plays a fundamental role in nearly all social and economic activity. Providing and maintaining the infrastructure consumes enormous resources. Thus, it is essential that this be carried out in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Many options are available to provide surface transport infrastructure - public ministries and agencies, public-private partnerships (PPPs), state-owned companies, private and non-profit entities, and outright privatisation. There are also various means of paying for it, including user charging, subsidies, public borrowing or private financing.

This report examines key principles that should be considered by governments in deciding how to provide and pay for surface transport infrastructure, with a view to best serving societies' needs and employing public resources. It also considers the key issues that must be resolved in making more use of private financing and expertise.

Summary Document

236 pages; OECD, Paris, February 2008
€75 ;  $97 ;  £54 ;  ¥10 400
ISBN 978-92-821-0155-1