Economic instruments, transport and the global environment

The use of economic instruments, such as charges, in abating climate change is assessed, with special reference to their application in the transport sector. The general strategies and instruments for global environmental policies are presented. The role of economic instruments in this context is highlighted, both in terms of theory and of application. Economic instruments are then analysed from the perspective of transport policies. Climate and transport appear to have different perspectives on economic instruments. The analysis leads to a framework for developing climate-related economic instruments in transport. These may result in substantial economic savings, especially if approached internationally and if distributional and institutional problems can be overcome. The integration of climate concerns into transport policies can be improved, and several suggestions are made in this respect.