[sustran] Global action needed to make transport sustainable

[arndt at wbcsd.org]

Global action needed to make transport sustainable 

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Read the press release online:
http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=6097

Access the report:
http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&DocId=6094
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Brussels, 5 July 2004  - Global cooperation to limit the adverse social 
and environmental impact of motor vehicles, complemented by further 
technology advances, is needed to fulfil transport's vital role in the 
development of modern society, states Mobility 2030: Meeting the 
Challenges to Sustainability, a report released by the World Business 
Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today.

The report was developed by 12 global automotive and energy companies who 
have worked together over the past four years, under the sponsorship of 
the WBCSD to assess the sustainability of their products and to envision 
the future of mobility, with special focus on road transport.

The report defines sustainable mobility as "the ability to meet the needs 
of society to move freely, gain access, communicate, trade and establish 
relationships without sacrificing other essential human or ecological 
values today or in the future."

According to the report, if current mobility trends were to continue, 
social, economic and environmental costs worldwide would be unacceptably 
high. However, those costs can be avoided if society as a whole focuses on 
the achievement of seven goals set out in the report. (Please refer to 
notes to editors)

The report says that mobility can be made sustainable. However, this is 
beyond the capabilities of any one company, one industry or one country to 
resolve, and will require cooperation and effort from every level of 
society. The report identifies no 'magic bullet' solution. In addition, it 
says some mobility challenges will take up to half a century to resolve, 
but action should be started now.

The project was undertaken in early 2000 to develop a clearer 
understanding of how both developed and developing societies can most 
effectively address the adverse effects of increasing levels of transport 
activity. 

Project Co-chair, Jeroen van der Veer, Chairman of the Committee of 
Managing Directors, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies said, "This 
project represents a major milestone in our industries facing up to the 
scale of the challenge to make transport sustainable in the 21st century."

The report's seven goals include: ensuring conventional emissions from 
transport are not a significant health concern anywhere; limiting 
greenhouse gas emissions from transport to sustainable levels; 
significantly reducing traffic-related deaths and serious injuries 
worldwide; reducing transport-related noise; mitigating traffic 
congestion; narrowing the divide in mobility opportunities that exists 
between and within different societies and regions of the world; and 
preserving and improving existing mobility opportunities. 

Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, Honorary Chairman of Toyota, and also a project 
co-chair, emphasizes the report's finding that, "the key to sustainable 
mobility on a global basis will be achieving it in the developing world. 
Fundamental to achieving this is the need to narrow the mobility 
opportunity divides that exist within countries as well as between the 
world's poorest countries and the developed world."

Senior executives of the member companies met on a periodic basis to 
review the project's progress. In addition, an Assurance Group, selected 
by the WBCSD and chaired by the Rt. Hon. Simon Upton, former environmental 
minister of New Zealand, commented regularly on the quality and integrity 
of the project's work.

The project research included an extensive stakeholder dialogue process, 
beginning in November 2000, with dialogues convened in Tokyo, Brussels, 
Washington, D.C., Sao Paulo, Prague, Beijing, Cape Town and Manila. 
Mobility workshops were held in several locations, including , Shanghai, 
Paris, Mexico City and Nagoya.

According to GM's Executive Vice President Tom Gottschalk, a project 
co-chair, the dialogues and workshops were designed to tap professional 
opinion around the world and to develop a clearer understanding and 
appreciation of the mobility challenges faced by different countries and 
regions.

Mr. Gottschalk also stated that Mobility 2030 is intended to be a 
catalyst. "The challenges to sustaining mobility are significant," he 
said, "but they can be met over time, provided society supports 
constructive approaches and solutions and encourages real understanding 
and cooperation among stakeholders." He added, "This report contributes 
positively toward that goal." 


Further information 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Download the report (5.9 MB)
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/publications/mobility/mobility-full.pdf

Download the media pack (2.6 MB)
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/publications/mobility/media.zip 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++


Contact:
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London
Dirk van Eeden, Fleishman-Hillard +44 (0)20 7395 7080
Tania Menegatti, Fleishman-Hillard +44 (0)20 7395 7038
Mary Whenman, Fleishman-Hillard +44 (0)20 7395 7036

Brussels
Sylvain Lhote, GPC International +32 2 285 46 14
Juliet Albiac, GPC International +32 2 282 09 85

Geneva
Claudia Schweitzer, WBCSD +41 (22) 839 31 50
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Notes to Editors
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Goal one: Ensure emissions of conventional pollutants from transport do 
not constitute a significant health concern anywhere in the world: 
Technology could drive conventional emissions down in developing 
countries. In the developed world, on the other hand, the focus will shift 
from setting standards towards making sure prescribed emission levels are 
met. "High emitter" vehicles are likely to attract the focus of attention.


Goal two: Limit greenhouse gas emissions from transport to sustainable 
levels: 
The SMP members argue that society's long-term goal should be to eliminate 
transport as a major source of GHG emissions but warn that this cannot be 
achieved until much later than 2030. In addition, the members believe that 
the portfolio of technology options they are currently pursuing for 
vehicle fuels and powertrains will be a significant factor in achieving 
stabilization of CO2 emissions. Stabilizing CO2 emissions from transport 
should form part of a larger strategy of policy measures aimed at reducing 
GHG emissions from all major sources.


Goal three: Reduce significantly the number of transport related deaths 
and serious injuries worldwide: 
Programs to reduce deaths and serious injuries from road vehicle crashes 
should focus on at least four factors: driver behaviour, improvements in 
infrastructure, better technologies for crash avoidance, and injury 
mitigation.


Goal Four: Reduce transport-related noise:
Overall, traffic noise is not likely to decrease. However, local 
authorities can address the increase in traffic noise through a 
combination of road surfaces and barriers that dampen noise, and by 
restricting the modification of vehicles by owners and others. 
Manufacturers are also continuing to improve the noise performance of 
transport vehicles.


Goal Five: Mitigate traffic congestion:
Congestion cannot be eliminated entirely, but its effects can be lessened 
substantially. Actions aimed at relieving congestion would need to include 
increasing infrastructure capacity, eliminating infrastructure 
choke-points and making more efficient use of existing mobility systems 
and infrastructure. Information Technology Systems should play a key role 
in enabling this.


Goal Six: Narrow mobility opportunity divides that inhibit inhabitants of 
poorest countries and economically and socially disadvantaged groups 
within most countries from achieving better lives.
This divide inhibits growth and works against the efforts of the very 
poorest countries and peoples to escape poverty. Sustainable mobility 
requires that the gap be narrowed.


Goal Seven: Preserve and enhance mobility opportunities for the general 
populations in developed and developing countries:
Improved mobility opportunities for all societies - developed and 
developing - is an important pre-requisite for future economic growth as 
well as forming the basis of a more sustainable global mobility system 
based on wider access and greater affordability. The SMP encourages the 
development of inexpensive motorized vehicles that are appropriate to the 
harsh road environments typically found in some developing countries. In 
urban areas, pricing strategies will be needed to encourage the effective 
use of existing conventional public transport systems.



Thorsten Arndt
Online Communications Manager
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
4, chemin de Conches
1231 Conches, Geneva, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (22) 8393 170
Fax: +41 (22) 8393 131
E-mail: arndt at wbcsd.org

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