DEMOCRITOS

DEveloping the MObility CRedits Integrated platform enabling travellers to improve urban TranspOrt Sustainability

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The 24 months project introduces the Mobility Credits Model as a transport specific platform that will enable travellers, mobility providers, technology providers and transport planners to understand the implications of climate policy and increasing prices for greenhouse gas emissions and to identify new opportunities in urban mobility first and in extra-urban mobility later. The concept of the Mobility Credit Model is based on four basic pillars: define a sustainable load of GHG (GreenHouse Gas) in an urban area; convert this load into a “total amount of credits”, that will become the common “currency” to be spent within the assigned budget limits using an Electronic GHG wallet, and will be distributed to all the travellers; define a set of rules to use the credits; exchange credits allowing travellers with a negative balance of credits to buy extra-credits from other travellers who are credit-positive. The Mobility Credits Platform (MCP) allows to create a behavioural context where the travellers can experience the effects of changing attitudes and choices in mobility with a range of possible implementations, from a “pedagogic tool” to a “mandatory demand management scheme”, from a “social network” to “enterprise applications”. The project will proceed through the development of a comprehensive and consistent theoretical framework in order to provide a solid background addressing all the implementation issues and effects of the integrated platform; the definition of the system and technology architecture, the assessment of the long term effects of the MCP, in particular the impact on local competitiveness due to re-location effects. The theoretical framework will be then tested in the four urban areas of Genova, Stuttgart, Lisboa and Craiova through simulations and a first demonstration pilot; results will be compared for finalizing the MCP scheme both for the participating cities and for other European municipalities.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A new way of dealing with emissions obliges travellers to think in terms of using up credits based on carbon dioxide (CO2) consumption. This actively involves citizens in reducing greenhouse gasses (GHGs).

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 'mobility credits' model represents a new paradigm in sustainable transport that awakens transport authorities, travellers and technology providers to the realities of climate change and policy needs. It is based on the premise of establishing targets for GHGs, basically CO2 production, in order to define how many 'credits' commuters can spend.

This visionary model was introduced by the EU-funded project Democritos, unveiling new opportunities for eco-friendly mobility and transport.

Today, enabling citizens simply to understand the concept of sustainability is not enough to address key challenges on the topic. The mobility credits model can be an effective way of integrating society in sustainable practices, either through an optional pedagogic tool or a mandatory community or government scheme.

To achieve its aims, the project defined the mobility credit model and theory behind it. It extrapolated the long-term effects on climate, as well as on local pollution levels and congestion. It also launched a website that enables users to simulate the use of mobility credits in four test-case cities and disseminated its goals through different channels such as newsletters.

This has provided municipalities and regional authorities involved in the project with novel ways to control emissions, empowering them to address climate change and energy dependency. In effect, the scheme, which applies to all modes of transport, puts pressure on industry and citizens to deliver efficiency and cleanliness.

Democritos has changed the onus from charging for transportation access to charging for energy consumption, engaging citizens much more actively in addressing urgent climate issues. Such a scheme is expected to go a long way towards redefining the Kyoto Protocol and meeting ambitious reductions in emissions. It will soon provide lawmakers and authorities with ingenious solutions to help make our world become healthier and more sustainable.