News and Events

25 January 2012

Sustainable Transport on United Nations' Agenda

Ban Ki-Moon outlined his new five-year action agenda at the UN General Assembly. This agenda sets out a series of actions that the UN Secretary-General believes the global community must take over the next five years. He underscored sustainable development as first in his list of “five generational opportunities to creatively deliver on our core mission."  The agenda also includes mobilising the UN system to support global, regional and national strategies to address the building blocks of sustainable development: Energy; Food and nutrition; Water; Oceans; and Transport. Regarding transport, the agenda calls to "convene aviation, marine, ferry, rail, road and urban public transport providers, along with Governments and investors, to develop and take action on recommendations for more sustainable transport systems that can address rising congestion and pollution worldwide, particularly in urban areas".

UN Secretary-General's Five-Year Action Agenda  |pdf]

22-26 January 2012

Washington, D.C. :  Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

This year over 12.000 attendees were present at this major transport research conference. The International Transport Forum participated in several events, notably Joint NHTSA-IRTAD session on International Benchmarking on Road Safety Data. Introduction of IRTAD Group and IRTAD 2011 Annual Report by Véronique Feypelle de la Beaumelle and Stephen PERKINS, ITF-OECD Joint Transport Research Centre |presentation] Creation of an IRTAD Network in Latin America. by Marc SHOTTEN, Global Road Safety Facility.  World Bank  [presentation] Consistency and Uniformity of Crash Data Across the U.S. by Terry SHELTON (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)  [presentation] Speed and Crash Risks: Analysis of Recent Monitoring in IRTAD Countries. by Tove HELS, Technical University of Denmark. |presentation] The Transforming Transportation Conference, organised annually in conjunction with TRB and  EMBARQ (funded by WRI and the Shell Foundation) World Bank, ADB and IDB held a session on Towards a Green Economy: How to Prioritise Avoid, Shift and Improve Solutions to climate change.  Stephen Perkins, Head of Research presented the  International Transport Forum Outlook Scenarios. ITF Outlook: Meeting the Needs of 9 Billion People. Presentation made at Transforming Transportation Conference [PPT]

SLoCaT (sustainable low-carbon transport) initiative)

6 December 2011

WHO Report:  Health Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation - Transport Sector published.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published it's report highlighting the benefits on health of climate change mitigation in the transport sector, at a side-event during COP17 in Durban. The report's key messages stress that a combination of active modes of transport, such as walking or cycling , rapid transport and improved land use to improve access to key destinations by these modes, can yield much greater immediate health co-benefits than improving fuel and vehicle efficiencies.

Health Co-benefits of Climate Change Mitigation - Transport Sector [PDF] WHO Press Release: Optimizing health in transport and climate change measures - new report identifies key strategies

6 December 2011

New Delhi: National Common Mobility Card is launched in India.

Shri Kamal Nath, The Union Minister for Urban Development unveiled on the 6th December, the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), named ‘More’, on the concluding day of the four day Urban Mobility India 2011 Conference & Exhibition. Ministry officials said the purpose behind the creation of the card was to provide the commuter with a seamless, efficient and hassle-free travel experience across the country using the NCMC as a single ticket. Commuters will also be able to pay parking and toll fees using this card A Ministry official indicated that it would be five years before the card becomes operational.

India Launches the National Common Mobility Card

5 December 2011

Paris: AutoLib' scheme is launched.

AutoLib' the self-service short-term car hire scheme enters into its operational phase in Paris and 45 towns in the Ile de France region, after a two-month testing period. The scheme launched by the Paris Municipality consists of a fleet of electric vehicles - Bluecars, built by the Bolloré Group. The scheme starts operations with a fleet of 250 vehicles, but it is expected that the number will eventually rise to 3 000 cars. Car sharing schemes already exist in other French towns, such as the Car2go fleet of hybrid vehicles in Lyon, but AutoLib' is the largest project of its kind in the world. Delegations from cities in Germany, Israel and China have already contacted Paris officials and expressed their interest.

Paris Municipality AutoLib' website

2 December 2011

Durban, South Africa: Global Fuel Economy Initiative report "International comparison of light-duty vehicle fuel economy and related characteristics" launched at COP17

The report, sponsored by GFEI, of which the International Transport Forum is a partner, shows that while the fuel economy of cars in the EU and 21 other sampled countries did improve between 2005 and 2008, not enough progress is being made to achieve the ambitious GFEI target. The 50by50 target aims at reducing vehicle emissions by half by 2050.  It is a global, and not intended to be applied at a country-by-country level The new report highlights key areas of focus which will help countries collectively meet the 50% target in under two decades time.

International comparison of light-duty vehicle fuel economy and related characteristics

1-2 December 2011

Paris: Roundtable on Major Transport Infrastructure Projects and Regional Economic Development - Assessment and Implementation

The purpose of this roundtable, organised by the Société du Grand Paris and the  International Transport Forum at the OECD is to discuss the state of the art in the understanding of the economic effects of major infrastructure projects, and how that understanding can be made operational to make good decisions on what projects to implement. assess the economic effects of major transport infrastructure projects. Invited experts' presentations on the Grand Paris and London Crossrail scheme project are available here.

The evolution of London’s Crossrail Scheme and the development of the Department for Transport’s economic appraisal methods 2011  The “Grand Paris” Project: Tools and Challenges

23 November 2011

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: 2011 UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport published

The globalization of maritime businesses allows shipping companies to source from the most cost-efficient suppliers. This has led to the reduction of international transport costs, which directly benefits global merchandise trade, according to the latest UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2010 saw an increase in demand in maritime transport, in particular in the dry bulk and container trade segments. Total seaborne trade reached an estimated 8.4 billion tons. The report also highlights the remarkable progress in international seaborne transport made by developing countries. Between 1970 and 2010, developing countries´ share in the volume of seaborne imports rose from just 18 per cent to 56 per cent of the world´s total. The world´s busiest container ports are Shanghai, Hong Kong (China) and Singapore, and Asian developing countries have the highest indicators of maritime transport connectivity.

UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2011

16 November 2011

2nd Annual Conference: Infrastructures de Transports (in French)

Following the Grenelle de l’environnement (Environment Round Table) in 2007 and the prelinimary project Schéma National des Infrastructures de Transports, which defines the main priorities for the state over the next 30 years, the financial crisis has taken hold and emphasis has been on budgetary matters. Although France must reduce its deficit and reduce debt levels, questions regarding the modernisation, development and, more generally, investment in transport infrastructure have special significance. The International Transport Forum is a partner of this conference.

Conference website

21 October 2011

Galileo: First satellites successfully sent into orbit

The the first pair of operational satellites for Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system were launched into orbit from the European Space Agency's (ESA) spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on a Russian Soyuz launcher. These two satellites are the pioneering components of a new constellation that will make up a smart satellite navigation system for Europe. Once the full system is up and running, expected from 2014, it will enable improved services ranging from more precise in-car navigation, effective road transport management, search and rescue services, more secure banking transactions and reliable electricity provision. The European Galileo satellite navigation system is a civilian-controlled system, unlike the Global Positioning System (GPS) used in the United States that is run by the military. Galileo is interoperable and compatible with GPS.

EU Cordis website

14 October 2011

European Commission. The Eurovignette Directive is published in the EU Official Journal

The new Eurovignette Directive which appeared in the EU Official Journal on 14th October 2011 will allow EU member countries to impose new tolls on trucks to charge them for the external effects of road freight transport such as air pollution and noise. EU member countries will, in effect be able to charge heavy-vehicles a toll in addition to existing infrastructure charges usually intended to cover the costs of building and maintaining road infrastructure. The toll may be modulated to take account of road congestion, vehicle emissions, distance covered etc.  EU member countries have a two-year period in which to transpose the provisions of the directive into their national legislation.

DIRECTIVE 2011/76/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 September 2011 amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures

13 October 2011

France : Air France makes its first commercial flight powered by biofuels

On 13th October 2011 an Air France A31 plane flew from Toulouse to Orly airport in Paris fuelled by a mixture of 50% kerosene and 50% biofuels. The CO2 emissions of this flight are of the order of 54g per passenger et per kilometre - half the emissions of a plane flying on traditional fuel.

06-07 October 2011

Urban Governance: Getting people on board! - UITP Conference

UITP international conference held in Gothenburg offers a unique opportunity to share and promote good practices in urban governance and transport demand management. By transferring the knowledge of international mobility experts, this event looks to inspire and raise awareness among transport authorities, mobility professionals, governments, local officials as well as urban planners. Barcelona, Vienna, Montréal, Freiburg, Paris, Odense, Singapore, Geneva and other leading cities show how they achieved sustainable mobility during six interactive sessions.

UITP Conference website

29 September 2011

How Clean are Europe’s cars? - New report from Transport & Environment

T&E’s report ‘How Clean are Europe’s cars’ broke new ground when it was first published in 2006, as it separated car makers’ individual efforts to cut CO2 from the overall industry average. The report has been published every year since, normally focusing on which car makers are doing best and which worst. But this year the issue of price has taken on added importance, as trends are now becoming clear following the adoption of the EU’s first obligatory fuel consumption standards in 2008.

‘How Clean are Europe’s cars?’

26-30 September 2011

Mexico: 'Roads for a Better Life"  - 24th World Road Congress

The premier international event for roads and road transport is this year being held in Mexico City. The Congress presents current research and best practice, while providing a venue for discussion of advances in technology and practice and brings together road transport stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and information sharing.  International Transport Forum Secretary General, Carole Coune in her keynote address "Transport is Critical for Green Growth to the Congress emphasised the key role of transport for environmentally responsible development.

Carole Coune's full speech : Transport is Critical for Green Growth Link to the 24th World Road Congress Site

02 September 2011

Japan: New Minister Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is named

Takeshi MAEDA, a DPJ member of Japan’s upper house, was named Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in the new Cabinet under Prime Minister Yoshihiko NODA on 2 September 2011. Mr Maeda holds a Master of Engineering from Kyoto University and has been a member of parliament since 1986. Most recently, he was head of budget committee in House of Counsellors.

01 September 2011

New Zealand releases transport policy directions for next decade

New Zealand Transport Minister Steven Joyce has released Connecting New Zealand, a summary of the government's intended policy direction for transport over the next decade. Mr Joyce says the government has been working hard to progress its three main areas of focus in transport policy: economic growth and productivity, value for money, and road safety. Connecting New Zealand draws together the policy direction set out in a number of policy decisions and guidance documents over the last 2 ½ years. These include the recently released National Infrastructure Plan and Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding, as well as the Safer Journeys road safety strategy and action plan. "This is not a new plan, but it ensures that the transport policy direction described across a range of strategic documents is pulled together in one place," says Mr Joyce.  Connecting New Zealand will help stakeholders understand how the government sees the transport system developing over the next 10 years, and assist stakeholders with their own investment decisions.

Connecting New Zealand [PDF]

11 July 2011

UK: House of Lords report on behavioural change

“Nudging” on its own is unlikely to be successful in changing the population’s behaviour. That is the main conclusion of the House of Lords Science and Technology Sub-Committee’s report, Behaviour Change, published on 11 July 2011. The report - the culmination of a year-long investigation into the way the Government tries to influence people’s behaviour using behaviour change interventions – finds that “nudges” used in isolation will often not be effective in changing the behaviour of the population. Instead, a whole range of measures – including some regulatory measures – will be needed to change behaviour in a way that will make a real difference to society’s biggest problems. "Among other aspects such as health, transport aspects are also covered.

House of Lords. Science and Technology Select Committee : Behaviour Change [PDF]