Curbing Cars: A Transatlantic Dialogue on New Urban Mobility

Cities’ reliance on motor vehicles imposes myriad public health and environmental challenges. In New York City, for example, officials estimate that fine particulate matter pollution from motor vehicles contributes to 320 premature deaths in New York City each year, which is approximately the same number as die from homicide. In Germany, the situation is not much better. In fact, approximately 70 German cities violated EU air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide emissions last year and automobiles have been largely blamed for the problem. To remedy the situation, policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic are experimenting with a range of strategies — from bans on diesel engines, to congestion pricing schemes — to encourage new forms of urban mobility. Yet they are encountering a series of obstacles along the way. At this upcoming event, experts from Germany and New York City will discuss options for lessening cars’ grip on transportation and challenges that lie ahead.

1 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice

Keynote address: 

Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert,
Department Head, Energy, Transportation, Environment, German Institute for Economic Research

Discussion to follow with:

Thomas Matte, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health

Jen Roberton, Transportation Policy Advisor, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

Danielle Spiegel-Feld, ’10, Adjunct Professor and Executive Director, Guarini Center

This is event has been made possible by the generous support of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany New York