Mitigating Climate Change Through Behavioral Adaptation: Transition to Low-Carbon Mobility in Assam

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a manifold rise in the frequency of extreme climatic events. These unprecedented changes in weather patterns are hugely driven by anthropogenic causes led by increasing economic activities and exploitation of the natural quality of the environment. Of all the environmentally detrimental anthropogenic activities, the transportation sector is one of the huge contributors to the rising greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere, thereby accentuating climate change issues. This necessitates adopting low- carbon consumption in different carbon-intensive sectors. Some of the low-carbon transport options in India include public transport or the latest technological advancement in the form of electric vehicles (EVs). However, very few cities in India have an extensive network of public transport. In the case of Assam, several emerging towns and cities are not yet connected with a timely and efficient network of public transport systems. This leaves people with only one option, i.e., to use personal vehicles. With the rising incomes and aspirations of the middle-income group, the demand for carbon-intensive goods like internal combustion engine (ICE) personal vehicles is only increasing. Replacing the demand for ICE vehicles with demand for electric vehicles (EVs) can significantly decarbonize the transport sector, one of the highest carbon- emitting sectors. Such a transition towards low carbon mobility can be a step towards climate change mitigation on the part of individuals.