The objective of NCHRP Project 20-24(64) was to provide a factual basis for judging the merits of alternative methods that state departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) can use for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. The project was undertaken to help policy makers to understand (a) how these alternative approaches to GHG emissions would affect states and metropolitan areas, (b) what approaches may be most effective for evaluating mobile-source GHG emission-management strategies, and (c) what particular tools are available to support implementation of these alternative approaches. The report is presented in five sections. Section 1, Introduction, provides background information, discusses the purpose and scope of the study, explains the study process, and presents the report organization. Section 2, Overarching Options for Establishing Transportation Requirements that Involve Targets, discusses several overarching considerations associated with any requirement that involves setting targets to address GHG emissions in transportation planning/programming. Section 3, Assessments of Alternative Policy Mechanisms for Reducing Transportation GHGs, identifies and describes several policy mechanisms that involve setting targets, along with requirements that might be implemented in addition to or instead of target-based requirements. Section 4, Implications of Alternative Targets on Sample States and MPOs, contains an analysis of a sample of states and metropolitan areas examining the estimated GHG emissions reductions that would be required to meet alternative targets. Section 5, Analysis Tools and Techniques to Support Implementation of Policy Mechanisms, reviews the availability, strengths, and limitations of existing tools that may be needed to meet requirements, identifies gaps, and discusses the potential implications of these gaps.

In reviewing proposals for transportation research programs as part of reauthorizing the federal surface transportation program, the Transportation Research Board recognized a gap: no proposals explicitly addressed research to mitigate GHG emissions and energy consumption attributable to passenger and freight travel or to adapt to climate change. A Transportation Research Program for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change and Conserving Energy is the product of a study to suggest research programs to fill this and other perceived gaps. Specifically, this book identifies research needs with regard to policies and strategies relating to the use of the transportation system and to assist infrastructure owners in adapting to climate change; focuses on research programs that could provide guidance to officials at all levels responsible for policies that affect the use of surface transportation infrastructure and its operation, maintenance, and construction; and aims to help officials begin to adapt the infrastructure to climate changes that are already occurring or that are expected to occur in the next several decades.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) have released the pre-publication version of TRB Special Report 290, The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation, which explores the consequences of climate change for U.S. transportation infrastructure and operations. The report provides an overview of the scientific consensus on the current and future climate changes of particular relevance to U.S. transportation, including the limits of present scientific understanding as to their precise timing, magnitude, and geographic location; identifies potential impacts on U.S. transportation and adaptation options; and offers recommendations for both research and actions that can be taken to prepare for climate change. The book also summarizes previous work on strategies for reducing transportation-related emissions of carbon dioxide--the primary greenhouse gas--that contribute to climate change. Five commissioned papers used by the committee to help develop the report, a summary of the report, and a National Academies press release associated with the report are available online. DELS, like TRB, is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

The GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard helps companies and other organizations to identify, calculate, and report GHG emissions. It is designed to set the standard for accurate, complete, consistent, relevant and transparent accounting and reporting of GHG emissions.