Brazil, the pioneer of BRT, is investing US$7.33 billion in Recife’s BRT. Photo by Fotoparceiros.

Welcome back to TheCityFix Picks, our series highlighting the newsy and noteworthy of the past week. Every week, we’ll run down the headlines falling under TheCityFix’s five themes: integrated transport, urban development and accessibility, air quality and climate change, health and road safety, and communications and marketing.

Mexico City won the 2013 Sustainable Transport Award for opening yet another line of its BRT system, Metrobus Linea 4 and for its commitment to creating more urban public space. The award, which is co-sponsored by EMBARQ, the producer of this blog, is given to cities that take bold strides in sustainable transport and urban redevelopment. Rio De Janeiro was a runner up to the 2013 prize and was nominated for opening first line of its BRT sytstem, Transoeste.

A local transportation advocate in Washington, D.C. has created a multi-modal Google based mashup map that combines mobility options – walking, driving, cycling and transit- into a single trip plan, allowing users to compare modes, routes and time saving opportunities.

The Northeastern Brazillian state of Pernambuco has begun a US$7.33 billion bidding program to create a 391 line BRT system for the state capital region (Recife). Bids for what will be a minimum of five “lots” of the project are due by April and represent between 342 and 498 individual transit vehicles. Recife is slated to be a 2014 World Cup host city.

Across the Atlantic, delays in implementing the latest phase of Rea Vaya, Johannesburg’s BRT system, may cost the City of Johannesburg millions of rand in manufacturers’ fees due to lagging acquisitions. The first phase, which is in operation and began construction in 2009, cost the City R391 million (US$ 43.3 million) in fees due to similarly delayed system roll out.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood committed $25 million for a streetcar project to run through the economically distressed heart of downtown Detroit. The remaining projected $140 million in construction costs are subject to fundraising between public private partnerships, to be funded by businesses seeking to attract workers downtown.

The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, which oversees all mass transit in the UAE megacity, has reported a 367 million trip count count across taxi, bus, Metro and aquatic public transport in 2012, a jump of 21 million rides, and 37,000 passengers.

Texas entrepreneur Michael McDaniel has proposed an aerial gondola transport system for Austin, Texas, which his firm is marketing as a cheap alternative to subways and light rail systems. Aerial tramways, such as those in Bogotá, Cape Town or Medellin, function as both tourist attractions and essential transport modes that McDaniel bills as an alternative for “medium-sized cities that don’t have the tax base to support such large civic projects like subway systems.” We interviewed McDaniel for this publication in 2012.

A report has found that the average rent for a Manhattan apartment is $3,973, costing $2,800 more than the U.S. national average, while selling prices for housing in New York’s most densely populated settlement was $1.46 million, compared to $230,000 nationally.  Conversely, the Center for Housing Policy dubbed New York City one of the most affordable cities in the United States after accounting for transportation costs.

Activists in India have taken to the streets and to twitter to give voice to the massive public safety problems women face in India, in light of the murder of a university student in Delhi last month on a public bus. The campaign, known by its twitter hashtag, #SafeCityPledge, calls on the public to do what would otherwise would be banal activities – walking alone, use public transport, or loiter in public spaces – if not for the systemic harassment of women in public.

An advocacy group in Pittsburgh is calling for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to better fund mass transit in Pennsylvania’s second largest metropolitan area. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is expected to announce a $3.5 billion annual shortfall in state spending to maintain basic transport infrastructure, including public transit. The Port Authority of Allegheny County, the primary public transit provider for Pittsburgh, narrowly avoided a 35% cut in service this past September.

WRI President Andrew Steer and World Bank President Kim. Photo by Aaron Minnick.

This post originally appeared on Bloomberg.com and WRIInsights. 

As we enter 2013, there are signs of growth and economic advancement around the world. The global middle class is booming. More people are moving into cities. And the quality of life for millions is improving at an unprecedented pace.

Yet, there are also stark warnings of mounting pressures on natural resources and the climate. Consider: 2012 was the hottest year on recordfor the continental United States. There have been 36 consecutive years in which global temperatures have been above normal. Carbon dioxide emissions are on the rise – last year the world added about 3 percent more carbon emissions to the atmosphere. All of these pressures are bringing more climate impacts: droughts, wildfires, rising seas, and intense storms.

All is not lost, but the window for action is rapidly closing. This decade–and this year–will be critical.

Against that backdrop, experts at WRI have analyzed trends, observations, and data to highlight six key environmental and development stories we’ll be watching in 2013.

1) Will the Obama Administration Lead on Climate Change?

Although climate change was largely absent from the U.S. presidential campaign, President Obama’s legacy will be defined in part by whether he can put the country on a safe emissions trajectory. A string of recent extreme events could ramp up political momentum. Hurricane Sandy caused more than $60 billion in damages. The U.S. drought will wipe out approximately 1 percent of the U.S. GDP, and is on track to become the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history.

These events appear to be shifting public perceptions: Americans’ understanding that global warming is happening increased to 70 percent in September from 57 percent in January 2010.

Will changing perceptions lead to more political pressure? How quickly will the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency move to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants? Who will Obama appoint to his cabinet, and will they push for climate action? We’ll be listening to Obama’s Jan. 21 inauguration speech for signs of greater leadership on climate in the coming term.

2) What Will the Global Energy Mix Be?

More than 1.3 billion people currently lack access to electricity, while a burgeoning global middle class is demanding more. How can we meet these energy needs while still reigning in greenhouse gas emissions? How these dynamics play out will say a lot about whether the world is on track for a low-carbon future. Three energy sources will be particularly important to watch this year: coal, natural gas, and renewables.

Coal is the greatest driver of energy emissions. While coal demand is waning in the United States, it is growing globally. WRI found 1,200 new proposed coal plants around the world. This growing demand has led to record levels of U.S. exports – meaning that the United States is largely shifting its emissions overseas.

Will the U.S. continue to feed the world’s growing appetite for coal? And how many of the 1,200 proposed coal plants will actually get built?

Shale gas is booming. U.S. shale gas production increased nearly 10-fold since 2005, and countries like China, India, and Argentina have huge potential shale reserves. Shale gas offers new opportunities as a cheap energy source and driver of economic growth. However, shale gas extraction carries significant environmental risks. It produces roughly half the carbon emissions of coal and can release methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

Will the shale boom continue? And will countries pursue environmentally responsible shale development?

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, renewable energy investment dropped 11 percent to $268.7 billion last year, largely due to uncertain policies and the low price of natural gas. Still, more than 100 countries have renewable energy targets (the United States is notably absent from this list), and countries from Saudi Arabia to South Africa are making big bets on renewables.

Will more countries enact renewable energy targets? And will renewable energy investment rebound in 2013?

3) Will China Embrace “Ecological Progress”?

China is the world’s largest consumer and biggest producer of carbon emissions. Last weekend, Beijing’s air quality was the worst on record, reaching 755 on the Air Quality Index. As China’s new leaders come into power they are faced with the underlying environmental issues, while trying to reinvigorate an economy that slowed to 7.5 to 8 percent growth last year.

China’s new leadership, helmed by incoming president Xi Jingping, has included making “ecological progress” to its Party constitution. As one official said, “I want my gold coins, but also green mountains and clean water.”

What progress will China make on its national climate and energy targets under its 12th five-year plan? Will it advance carbon-trading pilots toward a national trading scheme? And will it exploit its vast shale gas potential using environmentally sound policies?

4) How Will Africa’s Lions Grow?

Africa claimed six of the top 10 fastest-growing economies from 2001 to 2010, improving living conditions for millions. These are the so-called “African Lions.”

But Africa’s growth is being fueled largely by overseas investment, with about 50 percent coming from extractive industries. Extractives are important drivers of economic development, but can be extremely detrimental without the proper safeguards and governance in place. Will African countries embrace better governance to ensure sustainable growth? Will newly enacted laws for greater transparency under Dodd-Frank legislation make a difference? Will foreign investors like the EU and Canada take up similar measures?

5) Are We Turning a Corner on Forests?

Forests are home to 80 percent of the world’s land biodiversity and bring $720 billion dollars in economic benefits worldwide. While deforestation rates have declined in some places, the world still loses 13 million hectares per year.

Indonesia and Brazil are two key countries to watch—together they account for 60 percent of the world’s tropical forest loss.

In Indonesia, a two-year moratorium aimed at slowing deforestation expires this year. Will Indonesian President Yudhoyono extend the moratorium?

Likewise, Brazil has had a remarkable transformation in recent years, achieving record-low rates of deforestation. Can it maintain this progress? And what impact will Brazil’s new forest legislation have on this turnaround?

Better quality forest data is also needed. Later this spring, WRI will launch a new online forest mapping platform, Global Forest Watch 2.0, that provides high-resolution, near real-time monitoring of forests. This should be a boost to governments and businesses seeking to measure and prevent deforestation.

6) Will Green Growth Survive the Financial Squeeze?

We are living in a risk-averse financial moment. Faced with global economic uncertainty, many investors are focused on the short-term, putting pressure on “green” investments. For instance, the world needs around $1 trillion in climate finance, but is only receiving about one-third of that amount.

Will we see a shift in investments that de-risk markets and provide opportunities for green growth? Will new funding mechanisms emerge, like the Green Climate Fund, which could become a driver for more investment from the public and private sectors? Will multi-lateral development banks’ recent commitment of $175 billion investment for sustainable transport catalyze more investments in this direction?

Likewise, some business leaders—like UPS, Johnson & Johnson, and Unilever are incorporating long-term strategies into their business models. Will other companies follow?

• LEARN MORE: Check out WRI’s 2013 Stories to Watch website, where you can watch a video, scroll through photos, or view a presentation.

Day Two of Transforming Transportation commencesdwith a debate between World Bank President Kim and New York Mayor Bloomberg on global road safety. Photo by Aaron Minnick.

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and World Resources Institute Partner to Promote City Transit Solutions. Photo by David W.

This post was originally featured on WRI.org. 

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.

Creating open, inviting urban space in Mexico City, in addition to adding increased mobility, won the Capital this annual award. Photo by Dani Simons.

Mexico City is the winner of the 2013 Sustainable Transport Award (STA). Each year, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) awards cities with the STA. Mexico City was selected amongst a group of cities chosen across all geographies, scales and levels of development for their groundbreaking work in urban accessibility.

The award is meant to showcase more livable urban landscapes and ultimately, a more sustainable urban future.  Mexico City interlaced these concepts into an urban fabric that has integrated the newest and 4th line of Mexico City’s bus rapid transit through the city’s historic core, while simultaneously reforming street parking, expanding its public bike-share system and revitalizing urban spaces such as Alameda Central and Plaza Tlaxcoaque.

EMBARQ, a partner of the City of México

EMBARQ México was an integral partner in developing the latest bus rapid transit line in Mexico City, Linea 4. Holger Dalkmann, Director of EMBARQ – a co-sponsor of this award – highlights how much EMBARQ  “has deep connection with the 2013 STA recipient and the cities receiving honorable mentions”. “I want to congratulate Mexico City, and I am proud of the work that our center, EMBARQ México, is doing in its partnership with the Federal District”. “This award is a source of inspiration for our other centers around the globe collaborating with cities on low cost, safe and effective alternatives to improve the quality of life and health of their citizens and create economic opportunities in cities.”

Rio de Janeiro, the runner-up for the STA, was selected for expanding its bike sharing program as well as pioneering the first line of its world-class BRT system,Transoeste, in partnership with EMBARQ Brasil.

The award will be presented to Mexico City Minister of Transport, Rufino Leon tonight in Washington, D.C. in a ceremony hosted by Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia and Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. Holger Dalkmann, EMBARQ Director, will present some remarks to congratulate the winner and cities receiving honorable mentions. Past winners range from Ahmedabad, India to Bogotá, Colombia to San Francisco.