Abstract

This thesis analyses how transport policy at different levels of governance is responding to sustainability challenges and how such policies can be strengthened, particularly for climate change mitigation in the ASEAN region. Its academic contribution comprises the application of transition studies and policy studies to low-carbon transport and sustainable development. The main conclusions are: 1) The Avoid – Shift – Improve approach needs to be expanded with Access, Lifestyle and Transition considerations in order to be an effective framework that does justice to the distributional, systemic and behavioural aspects of low-carbon transport policy; 2) The newer international climate instruments, such as NAMAs, NDCs and the GCF, show more potential than the Kyoto Protocol instruments to promote sustainable, low-carbon transport, as they are better aligned to national circumstances and better suited to address the barriers that developing country policymakers face; 3) ASEAN instruments around transport focus on policy cooperation and reflect ‘networked regionalism’. Sustainable transport has played a relatively small role in ASEAN cooperation but this role is growing, and a range of ‘soft’ measures can be used to further promote low-carbon transport in its member countries; 4) At the national level, transport policy objectives support international sustainable development and climate goals, however the instruments, mechanisms and calibrations need to be strengthened to reach those objectives. Climate change has, in a few cases, led to policy windows for modifying transport policy; 5) At the local level, Southeast Asian cities such as Bangkok and Manila increasingly recognise the potential and benefits of cycling, yet much remains to be done in policy and planning to move cycling beyond a niche activity. ________________________________________

Abstract

International audience; The ASEAN air transport liberalization was initiated in 2004. The objective for 2015 is to establish a relaxation of 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom rights between member states. 7th freedom and cabotage rights, which are necessary to a successfully completed single market, are not yet included but could be by 2023. Two multilateral air services agreements have been set up (MAAS and MAFLPAS), and will lead to this liberalization objective in January 2015. Nevertheless, ASEAN countries can already decide to implement these multilateral agreements without waiting for the deadline. This strategy is the one chosen by Cambodia, which has applied MAAS and/or MAFLPAS agreements with Malaysia and Thailand in 2013. In parallel, the bilateral air services agreements with other ASEAN countries, and a few Asian countries, have also been updated in 2013, with removal of constraints on frequencies and capacities. These new air services agreements have already resulted in changes in airline behaviour. This paper analyses changes in the Cambodian market in terms of traffic patterns, airline behaviour, and competition. It provides some hints as to the potential impacts of the ASEAN air transport liberalization on the Cambodian air transport market; highlights the potential benefits and risks, and enlarges the discussion to the other local markets.