Sparks
Oct 4, 2021
With a heavy focus on car-based mobility, America鈥檚 transport network is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. But the return to the Paris Agreement by the Biden Administration and鈥痶he strong commitments to net zero emissions by many鈥痗ompanies in America鈥檚 transport industry has marked an important turning point for the country.鈥 As America鈥檚鈥痶ransport system begins its transition, we鈥檙e鈥痑lso presented with a鈥痺indow of opportunity鈥痶o鈥痯lan鈥痑 more equitable network鈥痶o support a healthier, fairer, and more resilient future.鈥
In this episode, we鈥檒l鈥痚xplore鈥痵ome of鈥痶he challenges surrounding鈥疉merica鈥檚鈥痝reen transportation鈥痶ransition, how innovative solutions could expand electric mobility options,鈥痑nd how placing social value鈥痑t the heart of鈥痠nfrastructure planning鈥痺ill be鈥痥ey to creating a鈥痵uccessful鈥痭etwork.鈥
Nick Albanese
Head of Intelligent Mobility, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF)
Nick Albanese leads BloombergNEF's global Intelligent Mobility team, which produces research, data and forecasts on shared mobility services and autonomous vehicles. Based in Washington D.C., Nick advises the world鈥檚 leading automakers, energy companies, governments and financial players on the policies, technologies, corporate strategies and economic factors shaping the future of e-mobility. He is also a lead author of BNEF鈥檚 annual 鈥淟ong-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook鈥. Nick holds a B.S. from Georgetown University鈥檚 School of Foreign Service and a M.A. from Columbia University鈥檚 School of International and Public Affairs.
鈥淒espite the rapid rise in Electric Vehicles (EV) sales, major auto markets are not on track to achieve net-zero road transport emissions by 2050. Urgent policy action is needed.鈥
Nick Albanese
Beth Osborne
Director, Transportation for America
Beth Osborne is the Director of Transportation for America, a national nonprofit seeking a transportation system that safely, affordably and conveniently connects people of all means and ability to jobs, services, and opportunity through multiple modes of travel. She was previously at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, managing the TIGER Discretionary Grant program, the Secretary鈥檚 livability initiative, and the development of policy proposals for the department. Before joining DOT, Beth worked for Sen. Tom Carper (DE) as an advisor for transportation, trade and labor policy, as the policy director for Smart Growth America and as legislative director for environmental policy at the Southern Governors鈥 Association. She began her career in Washington, DC, in the House of Representatives working as a legislative assistant for Rep. Ron Klink (PA-04) and as legislative director for Rep. Brian Baird (WA-03).
鈥淚nfrastructure as a term, because of its lack of definition, makes everyone feel included even when most everyone is being excluded. Those seeking to fund efforts to reduce GHG emissions from transportation hear that possibility in the word infrastructure, while what we are actually funding are the projects that have always and will continue to increase those emissions.鈥
Beth Osborne
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