Mobility and Environment

Abstract

The author considers that although mobility is essential for human progress it is leading towards environmental catastrophe and seeks to find a way of reaching 'environmentally sustainable mobility'. A scheme is outlined whereby any further increase in mobility must take place without increasing the overall environmental impact. Taking the Italian situation, the author constructed a model which provided an optimal solution including high-speed rail and less road traffic. The result was lower socio-economic costs and environmental impact than at present. In order to make more concrete proposals using this method, two targets are identified: to obtain exhaustive scientific data and to provide a sound evaluation of economic, social and environmental costs and benefits. The range of scientific data required is listed and proposals made for a decision-taking process using this information involving a wide section of the population. This paper was presented at the EURAILSPEED 92 conference held in Brussels, April 27-29, 1992. For the covering abstract see IRRD 853180.