Navigating Emissions Reduction Strategies in Tribal Communities

Strategies for emissions reduction can have unique impacts in tribal communities, where households and businesses are more dependent on personal vehicle travel than in urban areas, and there may also be larger numbers of households with limited access to reliable personal vehicles. In the transition to a more sustainable transportation system, concerns in these communities center on the viability of green transportation options in rural contexts, potential impacts of emissions reduction strategies on the cost of living, the viability of local economies, and identity and community. Research in this block will be conducted in partnership with tribal communities to focus on data collection and model development to understand how and why people travel in these communities, how they respond to different emissions reduction policies and strategies, and the relative distribution of burdens and benefits compared to urban areas. In turn, this research will inform the design of new policies and strategies that address the potential impacts during the transition to sustainable transportation systems.