Solutions-Policy and Technology

The domain of the policy-making unit must be congruent with the domain of the causes and effects of the problem with which the policy deals.  This is often called the principle of subsidiarity.

-Herman E. Daly and Joshua Farley (2004)

This is the quote that William R. Black starts off the 8th chapter with in his book Sustainable Transportation entitled "An Introduction to the Range of Possible Solutions."  In this chapter Black does not propose any specific solutions to the problem of our current unsustainable transportation system to any great extent, but simply proposes that there are two basic ways that one can look for solutions.  One can look to improve the transportation system via either policy changes or changes in technology according to Black.

Break Down:

Policy:

One way for the transportation sector to become more sustainable is for the government to create new policies.  These policies could range from changing the required average gas mileage on vehicles to how transportation systems are designed and tolled, to where funding goes and how the money is raised.  There are a million different ways to make policy changes to make transportation more sustainable, it is just a matter of finding the right combination.

Technology:

Along with the right combination of policy changes, technology changes must also exist.  These technology changes would most likely come from the private sector, with possible funding or help from the public sector.  These technologies would include smarter cars, better, safer forms of transportation that are more efficient as well.  Just like policy changes there is a multitude of technology advancement that can be made to make transportation more sustainable.  In fact, it is practically impossible to compile a list of all viable changes and advances that could be made.  While most of these are not aimed at fixing the entire problem, a combination of many of them could help fix the problem if done correctly and in time.

To conclude this summary I will refer back to Black's ending to chapter 8.  Black states that there are obviously many ways for both technology and policy changes to help fix our unsustainable transportation network, it just requires a population that is willing and able to implement these changes.  Some can be as simple as asking, or forcing, people to drive less like in the 1970's during the oil crisis, while others take more time and are much more complicated.  But until people step up and decide to do something, a list of ideas will do nothing.