UNDA Project on CO2 emissions and ForFITS

The main objective of this project is to enhance international cooperation and planning towards sustainable transport policies.

Its achievement is expected to result from capacity building initiatives organized for policy makers and training activities for technical experts, leveraging on the development of a modelling tool capable to assist users in the selection of the most appropriate and effective measures to reduce CO2 emissions in the inland transport sector (including road, rail and waterways except national and international aviation and maritime transport: CO2 emissions caused by international aviation and maritime transport are excluded from its scope).

Since this modelling tool is meant to foster sustainable transport policies For Future Inland Transport Systems, it is named ForFITS.

ForFITS model

ForFITS was developed as a software tool allowing for the evaluation of transport activity, energy use, and CO2 emissions in a range of possible policy contexts.

It is suitable for the analysis of transport systems having a regional, national and/or local dimension, with a primary focus on national systems.
The tool is freely available.

Relevant documentation, including a methodological description (updating the draft methodology linked above) and a user manual are expected to become available shortly.

Model download

The modelling environment selected for the development of this tool is Vensim. The model, last updated in early May 2013, includes a Vensim Packaged Model file (.vpm), coupled with a Microsof Excel file (.xls).

The latest version of both these files can be downloaded here:

ForFITS May 2013.vpm

ForFITS Inputs.xls

The Vensim Model Reader is freely downloadable here (selecting the Model Reader option): http://vensim.com/free-download/

For instructions on the use of the prototype model and information on its characteristics, please contact us directly (our contact details are provided below).

Background

2008	The UNECE Transport Division called on the UN Development Account (UNDA) for funds to build this project together with all UN Regional Commissions
2009	The UN General Assembly endorsed the project
2010	The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) approved a Project Document describing in detail the major phases and activities of this three-year project
2011	Official project launched during a video conference involving all UN Regional Commissions
2011	Preparation of a global review on existing statistical data, policy measures and assessment tools concerning CO2 emissions in transport
2011	Development and distribution of a questionnaire (available in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish) to provide inputs for the preparation of the review
2012	International Expert Meeting (IEM) to disseminate information on the project, to share experiences and to explore possible synergies with other stakeholders
2012	Workshop with selected experts to gather comments on the review on statistics, mitigation polices, and modelling tools (released in a draft version in April 2012 and finalized in October 2012) and to receive feedback on a draft methodology of the ForFITS tool (released in April 2012)
2012	Model development and release of the first model prototype
2013	Finalization of the model development
2013	Preparation of user manual and training materials
2013	Capacity-building workshops and training activities for policymakers and technical experts in all the regions associated with the UN Regional Commissions.