Resource information
The Government of Georgia is considering
options for reducing fossil fuel imports in favor of
introducing large scale use of domestic energy sources for
public and private transportation. However, this must be
considered within the overall context of green
transportation-which will generate benefits well beyond the
substitution of fossil fuels with domestic energy sources.
The concept of green transportation has emerged in response
to growing concerns about climate change; typically this
refers to a transportation system characterized by low
carbon emissions, i.e., Green House Gasses (GHG). In the
context of Georgia, two other important development issues
in green transportation in addition to GHG emissions are
fossil fuel consumption and air pollution. For the purpose
of this study, therefore, green transportation in Georgia
refers to reducing the intensity of fossil fuel use and
increasing reliance on indigenous energy sources (mainly
hydropower), as well as minimizing adverse impacts on the
global and local environment through reduced emissions of
GHG and local pollutants. Greening transportation will
create 'co-benefits': reducing fossil fuel use
will help improve the balance of trade and energy security;
and employing measures to avoid unnecessary trips and using
fewer vehicles for the same number of trips (i.e., public
transportation) would reduce traffic congestion on the road
network, particularly in urban areas. By greening
transportation, Georgia could reduce the total import bill
for petroleum products, thereby improving the balance of
trade and energy security.
