Kuala Lumpur - Plan to double public transport

Consolidating public transportation: "KUALA LUMPUR: The National Public Transport Policy Framework (NPTPF) and the Greater Kuala Lumpur – Klang Valley public transport master plan will be ready by September next year, Land Public Transport Commission (LPTC) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar recently said and this would be followed by sub-plans to focus on other regions such as Penang and Johor.

“Currently, the Commission is holding consultations with various stakeholders, users and experts,” said Syed Hamid.

He also said currently, the modal share of public transportation in Greater KL was at 12% and the government is aiming to increase it to 25% by 2012."

Hong Kong’s Expanding Metro a Model of Development-Funded Transit « The Transport Politic

Hong Kong’s Expanding Metro a Model of Development-Funded Transit « The Transport Politic: "As one of the densest places on earth, it is no surprise that Hong Kong is a transit city, with over 90% of journeys made by public transportation. This concentration ensures high ridership on the city’s extensive MTR metro system. Yet it also increases the cost of line expansions, since building new projects in places that are already packed with people necessitates the creation of tunnels and requires expensive environmental and social remediation.

Hong Kong, however, is going about constructing new projects at a steady pace. At the end of last month, the MTR transit agency approved the construction of the 4.3-mile South Island Line, which will provide service to Aberdeen and other sections of the south side of Hong Kong Island. In addition, the agency will complete a 1.6-mile extension of the Kwun Tong Line to Whampoa. Both will open for operations by 2015, with ground breaking scheduled for next year. The city already has a 2-mile metro extension to the West Island under construction."

Cars emit carbon dioxide which causes climate disruption

Thailand Makes Its Slow Recovery From The Flood Disaster. | Pattaya Daily News - Pattaya Newspaper, Powerful news at your fingertips: "Thailand is taking stock as the worst of the flooding subsides and the nationwide relief effort strengthens. The Chao Phraya River still presents a threat, though, with further high tides imminent."

Asia tops climate change's 'most vulnerable' list - environment - 20 October 2010 - New Scientist

(Image: Farjana K. Godhul/AFP/Getty)

Asia tops climate change's 'most vulnerable' list - environment - 20 October 2010 - New Scientist: "SEEKING to escape the worst effects of climate change? A comprehensive vulnerability index suggests you move to Scandinavia, Ireland or Iceland. And although Africa is often regarded as the most vulnerable continent, it finds that the teeming plains of Asia are at greater risk in the next 30 years. Ten of the 16 most vulnerable countries are in Asia (see map)."

Record 140 traffic jams hit Beijing in single evening - The China Post

Record 140 traffic jams hit Beijing in single evening - The China Post: "Record 140 traffic jams hit Beijing in single evening

BEIJING -- A record 140 traffic jams were observed on Friday evening in the Chinese capital, state media reported, as the number of vehicles on Beijing's streets has exceeded 4.5 million."

More climate change pain in China. When will we stop using automobiles?

Rescuers using shovels are desperately digging through thick mud to locate some 1,300 people still missing after flooding and landslides in northwestern China. VOA
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Climate change and illegal logging could wipe out rainforest wildlife by 2100 - Telegraph

Climate change and illegal logging could wipe out rainforest wildlife by 2100 - Telegraph: "The colourful wildlife found in tropical humid forests makes up more than half of the animal and plant species on Earth.
But the first study to look into the combined effect of both global warming and deforestation found most species are in danger of extinction."

Taiwan heat wave

Taipei Times - archives: "Over the last few days the temperature in Taiwan has shot up and the media has been awash with articles of how people can avoid the worst of the heat wave. The papers have also been full of stories about the number of heat-related deaths. Questions have been raised as to the potential health risks posed by the scorching heat, when in fact the best way to deal with this problem, and to reduce the health risks posed by climate change, is to establish some form of early warning mechanism.

Environmental protection and health professionals in Taiwan have for many years now taken the impact of global warming on health very seriously. The National Science Council (NSC) has also been aware of the problem for some time. National Taiwan University set up the Global Change Research Center (GCRC) a while back, and the NSC is funding academic research into the effect of climate change in Taiwan and what ecological changes are going to mean for people’s health, predicting how the situation is likely to evolve.

Over the last century Taiwan’s average temperature has increased by between 1.1 and 1.4 percent, twice the global average. The temperature of the surrounding oceans has risen at a higher rate, having a considerable impact on the fishing ecology."

Free train rides feasible, but other steps need to be studied

Free train rides feasible, but other steps need to be studied: "Continuing to offer no-fare rides on third-class trains would not drain the state budget, but other temporary free public services are more complicated and need further study, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said yesterday.

'They should not be made permanent, but could we implement them for a lengthy period?' he asked."

Global Warming - More Pain to come

Singapore can have free public transport for 150 basis points

In response to NCMP Sylvia Lim’s call in Parliament on 11 March 2010 for transport concessions for the disabled, Transport Minister and MP for East Coast GRC, Raymond Lim, said: “I’d be very slow in stipulating (to operators) how best to run the concession policy.”

But actually the Minister had once proposed a way to have completely free public transport. Here’s what he said about public transport concessions during a constituency visit back in 2008... see video on Gerald Giam's blog

Best way to cut carbon emissions - More Public Transit

Taipei, April 19 (CNA) Instead of imposing a carbon tax to cut carbon emissions, the government should put greater emphasis on improving the energy efficiency of vehicles and encouraging the use of public transportation, Vice Premier Eric Liluan Chu said Monday.

In an interview with a local cable TV station, the vice premier, who heads a carbon emissions reduction committee under the Executive Yuan, said a carbon tax is one option to curb the consumption of fossil fuels, but the government's overall strategy remains the most important factor in the effort.

"Limiting the emissions of vehicles, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, enhancing the efficiency of public transportation, and extending rapid transit systems" would be more effective than imposing carbon taxes or congestion pricing, according to Chu.

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