Activities in Kosovo supporting the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week
Requested by the United Nations General Assembly, the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week was held from 6-12 May 2019. This Week was focused on leadership for road safety. It is widely acknowledged that stronger leadership for road safety is needed to achieve the Global Goals. Therefore it launches action through the ongoing campaign: Save Lives - #SpeakUp.
The activities for marking the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week in Kosovo have been organized by College Tempulli and Kosovo Association of Motorization “AMRKS” with the support by Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Kosovo Police and Kosovo Forum for Road Safety.
Agenda:
6 May 2019 - Overview of activities within the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week and launch of six road safety campaigns.
7 May 2019 - Online distribution of the questionnaire in order to get citizens' opinion about the factors that can contribute to improving the current road safety situation.
8 May 2019 - Roundtable: # SpeakUp - Everyone can be a leader for road safety.
10 May 2019 - The Central Manifestation of the seventh edition of the activity “Road Safety”, where elementary and lower secondary school students from different municipalities of Kosovo compete with bicycles, intended to test students' technical skills in driving bicycles.
Movin’On by Michelin sets the stage for the Mobility of the Future
IRF was pleased to partner and lead some of the sessions of the 2019 edition of the Movin’On Summit, the world summit on sustainable mobility. The successful third edition hosted about 5,000 visionaries from 44 countries between June 4 and 6, 2019, in Montreal, Canada and discussed new and actionable solutions to move from ambition to action.
Created and inspired by Michelin, the event was produced by the Movin’On Sustainable Mobility Fund, with C2 International as organizing partner. Under the banner theme of Solutions for Multimodal Ecosystems, an environment of leaders from academia, politics, cities and business were guided in exploring new and actionable solutions to the global challenges defining the future of mobility. Gathering over 150 partners, the Movin’On Summit strengthens its position as a catalyst and mobilizer for sustainable mobility.
Bringing in the perspective and expertise of the International Road Federation (IRF), Susanna Zammataro - IRF Director General - led three sessions during this edition respectively on air quality, on safe and inclusive mobility and a working session on new technologies strategies, and tools for a pro-active and preventive approach to road safety. More than 300 new bike-share services were launched worldwide last year. Ride-hailing services together provide more than 45 million rides a day. Advances in new mobility services, electric, autonomous and data-driven technologies are changing how people get around but also cities themselves. These changes could lead to healthier lifestyles, less traffic, fewer carbon emissions and pollution which kills yearly 7 million people, or they may not. To harness the benefits of new mobility, it’s important for decision-makers to establish clear priorities that encourage sustainable, safe and equitable mobility for all, leaving no one behind. Fast growing cities in low and middle-income countries are on the front line as they are building now their transport systems and are called to make decisions that will affect generations to come.
During the 2019 edition’s closing ceremony, Luis Alfonso De Alba, United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019 Special Envoy, and Florent Menegaux, CEO of the Michelin Group, agreed that the Movin’On Summit’s ecosystem must contribute by helping the UN move from ambition to action regarding mobility’s impact on climate. Over two and a half days, participants were inspired by 95 speakers and collaborated together through 42 working sessions on the 5 leading themes of this edition: circular economy, decarbonisation and air quality, society and multi-modal urban transport, innovative technologies, multi-modal goods transport. Edition by edition, the Movin’On Summit has evolved from encouraging dialogue, to making real commitments and taking firm action toward sustainable mobility.
To learn more on Movin’ON: https://summit.movinonconnect.com
Belt & Road: IRF to lead the Green & Sustainable Transport Committee
IRF was pleased to support again this year the World Transport Convention (WTC) organised by China Highway & Transportation Society (CHTS) – am esteemed member or IRF - in Beijing on 13-16 June 13. WTC offered the background for the plenary session of The Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA) during which IRF has signed agreement to lead the Green & Sustainable Development Committee.
IRF was pleased to support again this year the World Transport Convention (WTC) organised by China Highway & Transportation Society (CHTS) – am esteemed member or IRF - in Beijing on 13-16 June 13. WTC offered the background for the plenary session of The Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA) during which IRF has signed agreement to lead the Green & Sustainable Development Committee.
The World Transport Convention (WTC) - at its third successful edition this year - is becoming an increasingly influential event in China and an international platform nurturing, stimulating, demonstrating and implementing transportation innovations for government officials, practitioners, and academia. Under the theme "Green and Intelligent Mobility for Future Transport", the event gathered this year 6,000 delegates. The impressive opening ceremony welcomed Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior officials from a variety of countries around the world and key international organisations.
IRF's delegation was headed by Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General. Addressing the plenary of the Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA), IRF DG said "As highlighted during the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in April 2019, international cooperation and coordination play and will play a key role in furthering the positive effects of the BRI. We, as the International Road Federation, are well placed to act as catalyst to bridge, foster and coordinate the required 360 degrees partnerships. With our broad range of members and widespread expertise, IRF has been successfully acting as an interface between governments, international bodies, multi development banks and the private sector for over 70 years. We are at the forefront of creating enabling frameworks and providing insightful data and expertise to allow deeper analysis on the key issues our sector is facing." She stressed that "We need to think "system" and look at developing diversified and distributed transport systems; we need to develop pragmatic, balanced, flexible policy and regulatory schemes that can spur innovation, including green innovation in all its forms; We need to develop policies that drive collaborations because that's what success will largely depend upon; We need to reduce transaction costs by harmonising standards and procedure".
Mrs Zammataro thankedthe Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China for the invitation to join the BRI International Green Development Coalition as a partner and to further serve as a Lead partner of the Green Transportation Thematic Partnership of the Coalition. "We trust that the International Green Development Coalition will allow us to contribute even further towards enabling the BRI to deliver sustainable transport for Eurasia and beyond and the achievement of economic, social and environmental goals" she concluded.
Speaking later on at the Belt & Road Summit hosted also in the framework of WTC, Mrs Zammataro provided some insights on how to deliver climate resilient road infrastructure along the Belt & Road.
If you wish to get involved in the Belt and Road Transport Alliance or the Green Transportation stream of the BRI International Green Development Coalition, please contact IRF Secretariat at info[@]irfnet.ch
SuM4All discusses Global Road Map of Action and new priorities
The 7th Consortium Meeting of the Sustainable Mobility for All initiative was held on May 23rd, 2019 during the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. Thirty-seven organizations gathered at this meeting to take stock of SuM4All achievements to date and decide where next to take this partnership. The meeting had three objectives: (i) reflect on the progress with SuM4All so far; (ii) delve into the details of the global roadmap of action (GRA) and its six companion papers; and (iii) discuss new thematic priorities for the initiative.
The meeting kicked off with opening remarks by co-chairs Mr. Guangzhe Chen (World Bank) and Mr. Yuwei Li (UNECE). Both emphasized the pivotal contributions of the SuM4All partnership to the mobility agenda and stressed the importance continued collaboration under the leadership of SuM4All.
The first session, moderated by Susanna Zammataro (IRF), provided an update on the progress of the upcoming GRA, highlighting the success of both rounds of the engagement process following the receipt of requests/input/comments from more than 50 countries, cities, MDBs, UN agencies, multi-national companies, and global civil society organizations. Notably the engagement process included the participation of representatives from all modes of transport. SuM4All is now wrapping up the engagement process and plans to launch the Action Roadmap in the Fall of 2019.
Read more about the consortium meeting, SuM4All work and Annual Report on: http://www.sum4all.org
A Private Sector Road Safety Coalition for Tanzania
The first meeting of the private sector road safety coalition for Tanzania led by Total and facilitated by IRF was hosted in Dar es Salaam in May. Attended by a highly-motivated and engaged group of private companies, the meeting mapped out priorities areas of intervention and defined a first set of actions to be implemented.
In opening the meeting Mr Tarik Moufaddal, TOTAL Managing Director and Country Chair who stressed that road safety is a key value for the group hence the engagement of Total Tanzania in this initiative. Total has been present in Tanzania for the past 50 years. The road safety situation in the country is a problem for the companies but it is also a major problem for the entire community.
Ms Anne-Valérie Troy, TOTAL Senior Advisor Road Safety (Total Foundation) provided an overview of Road Safety work carried out by the Total Foundation. Road Safety is both a value for the group but also an expertise. Three the main axes of engagement: 1. Education of young people below the age of 25; 2. Training and education of specific groups; 3. Advocacy and support to the authorities to raise standards. Ms Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General provided an introduction on IRF including an overview of road safety work around the globe and in Tanzania more specifically. The Federation has been working on the issue for the past 70 years and is well recognised internationally beside being well connected with key stakeholders in the country including relevant authorities.
During the meeting, the benefits of a road safety coalition were clearly spelled out as follows:
- Share best practice and expertise
- Share costs
- Avoid duplication of efforts
- Ensure greater impact of projects/initiatives and greater visibility too.
The group engaged in a lively debate on what are key road safety issues in the country on the basis of their experience. Main issues identified:
- drivers. There’s lack of education and lack of skilled drivers on the country.
- Infrastructure. Insufficient road maintenance and poor signalisation make road dangerous
- Funding. Lack of funds hampers progress especially when it comes to rural roads.
- Vehicles. Technical controls insufficient and poor quality of vehicles and vehicles maintenance
- Education. Need for massive education and awareness campaigns especially targeted at young generations.
The aim of a road safety coalition in Tanzania will be to federate private sector stakeholders to work together, in close collaboration with international institutions, NGOs, and local authorities in order improve road safety via hands-on, impact-oriented and scalable activities.
To learn more or get involved, please contact IRF Secretariat at info@irfofficial.org
IRF Foresight Sessions at PIARC World Congress
Abu Dhabi will be hosting the 26th World Road Congress of PIARC on 6-10 October 2019. IRF is organising one foresight session on road safety partnerships and another one on gender in transport together with World Bank and the International Transport Forum.
The nearing end of the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) calls on all of us to step up our efforts. The upcoming ministerial meeting, which will be hosted by Sweden in February 2020 further offers the opportunity to renew our commitment by bringing to the table concrete action.
Building on the current momentum that sees road safety high on the global agenda, the foresight session “Building Partnerships for Better Road Safety” will explore the importance of inter-agency collaboration and of multi-stakeholders’ partnerships. Scheduled on 7th October in the morning, the session will provide concrete examples of the strength of partnerships and provide guidance on concrete steps to be undertaken to set up partnerships that deliver, especially in the case of LMICs. Multi-sector partnerships have great potential if efforts and resources are aligned with global goals.
The Foresight Session “Transport is not gender neutral: From increasing mobility to enhancing employment in the road sector” is scheduled on 7th October afternoon and organised under the leadership of the World Bank and in collaboration with the International Transport Forum. The session aims to showcase that transport and road infrastructure are not gender neutral and that the Road Sector has a key role designing and planning for roads that meaningfully address women’s mobility, which will be relevant for enhancing their accessibility to economic opportunities and services, whilst boosting development in general.
In this context, this event adopts a holistic approach towards “gendered” road transport and infrastructure and discusses three key issues. From the employment side it will portray what can be achieved in the road sector by having (gender) diversity in the workplace. From the user perspective it will highlight how (rural) transport infrastructure can be developed in a way to maximize social and economic gains to society through user centered methods for data collection that will inform road transport and infrastructure that properly address gender considerations. Lastly, the event will also discuss whether it is possible to develop and implement a universal (bidding and implementation) standards to address social risks during construction stage of infrastructure projects.
Please contact IRF Secretariat for more info on these sessions at info[@]irfnet.ch and register for the Congress on http://www.aipcrabudhabi2019.org
World Road Statistics 2019 – Pre-Orders & Advertising Opportunities
The 56th edition of the annual World Road Statistics (WRS) will be released at the end of August 2019. This will cover data from 2012 to 2017 across more than 50 indicators related to the road and transport sector overall.
Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities are now available. Associate your company name with high quality data and obtain global exposure to peers, potential clients and business partners!
Advertisers and sponsors will be acknowledged in all communication materials of the WRS including the book, leaflets and website. You will further be eligible for a FREE electronic version of the WRS 2019.
Buying a copy of the new edition of WRS (2019) at discounted rates can be done by taking advantage of the “Pre-orders Offer” valid till 31st August.
Reach out today to find out more about these opportunities!
For more information, please contact the IRF Secretariat at info[@]irfnet.ch
IRF at the 70th UN Working Party on Transport Statistics
The International Road Federation was among the key stakeholders invited to attend the 70th UN Working Party on Transport Statistics, chaired by the United Nations Commission of Europe (UNECE), which took place at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12-14June 2019. A key focus was to continue the discussion surrounding the development of a global indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Working Party opened with a Workshop on Urban Public Transport Data, discussing the measure of public transport access, production of public transport statistics, and how to address data gaps at the national and international level. Highly interesting presentations to present and discuss methods and challenges in the collection of statistics on urban public transport were delivered by national administrations such as Canada and the UK, as well as by international organisations such as UN Habitat. From the private sector, Transports Publics Genevois (tpg), the public transport operator in the Canton of Geneva, provided great insights into their data analysis, facilitated by having 100% of their vehicles equipped with monitoring sensors.
As one of the international organisations with statistical activities of interest to the Working Party, IRF Data and Programme Manager, Julia Funk, presented the current and future IRF activities in the field of transport statistics. Other organisations who provided updates included the European Commission (DG MOVE and Eurostat) and the International Transport Forum (ITF).
The World Health Organization (WHO), as part of the discussions surrounding SDG indicator 3.6.1, which calls for the halving of road traffic accident fatalities by 2020, provided great insights into the calculation of their estimate of road fatalities by country. This indicator is known to be prone to underreporting, with this presenting a particular issue in developing countries.
Further topics of discussion included issues surrounding measuring passenger and freight volumes by mode of transport, where multimodal traffic comparisons face issues of territoriality vs. residency, i.e. whether freight transport is recorded in the country in which the vehicle is registered, or in the country in which it is being transported. The Working Party moreover received updates from the ECE Statistics Division about the activities of the Interagency and Expert Group on SDG indicators (IAEG-SDG), in particular about the Statistics Division’s activities on assisting member states to measure SDGs.
Sessions on data collection, methodological development and harmonisation of transport statistics rounded off the meeting. Updates to the fifth edition of the Glossary for Transport Statistics, which also serve as the source of definitions for the IRF World Road Statistics, were discussed. The secretary of the UNECE Working Party on Pollution and Energy presented the need for better data on trade in used vehicles, as no reliable international statistics exist. The collection of statistics on trade in used vehicles, as well as traffic censuses in the ECE region were further sessions covered during the three-day meeting.
For more information, please contact the IRF Secretariat at info[@]irfnet.ch
Belt & Road: IRF to lead the Green & Sustainable Transport Committee
IRF was pleased to support again this year the World Transport Convention (WTC) organised by China Highway & Transportation Society (CHTS) – am esteemed member or IRF - in Beijing on 13-16 June 13. WTC offered the background for the plenary session of The Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA) during which IRF has signed agreement to lead the Green & Sustainable Development Committee.
IRF was pleased to support again this year the World Transport Convention (WTC) organised by China Highway & Transportation Society (CHTS) – am esteemed member or IRF - in Beijing on 13-16 June 13. WTC offered the background for the plenary session of The Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA) during which IRF has signed agreement to lead the Green & Sustainable Development Committee.
The World Transport Convention (WTC) - at its third successful edition this year - is becoming an increasingly influential event in China and an international platform nurturing, stimulating, demonstrating and implementing transportation innovations for government officials, practitioners, and academia. Under the theme "Green and Intelligent Mobility for Future Transport", the event gathered this year 6,000 delegates. The impressive opening ceremony welcomed Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior officials from a variety of countries around the world and key international organisations.
IRF's delegation was headed by Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General. Addressing the plenary of the Belt & Road Transport Alliance (BRITA), IRF DG said "As highlighted during the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in April 2019, international cooperation and coordination play and will play a key role in furthering the positive effects of the BRI. We, as the International Road Federation, are well placed to act as catalyst to bridge, foster and coordinate the required 360 degrees partnerships. With our broad range of members and widespread expertise, IRF has been successfully acting as an interface between governments, international bodies, multi development banks and the private sector for over 70 years. We are at the forefront of creating enabling frameworks and providing insightful data and expertise to allow deeper analysis on the key issues our sector is facing." She stressed that "We need to think "system" and look at developing diversified and distributed transport systems; we need to develop pragmatic, balanced, flexible policy and regulatory schemes that can spur innovation, including green innovation in all its forms; We need to develop policies that drive collaborations because that's what success will largely depend upon; We need to reduce transaction costs by harmonising standards and procedure".
Mrs Zammataro thankedthe Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China for the invitation to join the BRI International Green Development Coalition as a partner and to further serve as a Lead partner of the Green Transportation Thematic Partnership of the Coalition. "We trust that the International Green Development Coalition will allow us to contribute even further towards enabling the BRI to deliver sustainable transport for Eurasia and beyond and the achievement of economic, social and environmental goals" she concluded.
Speaking later on at the Belt & Road Summit hosted also in the framework of WTC, Mrs Zammataro provided some insights on how to deliver climate resilient road infrastructure along the Belt & Road.
If you wish to get involved in the Belt and Road Transport Alliance or the Green Transportation stream of the BRI International Green Development Coalition, please contact IRF Secretariat at info[@]irfnet.ch
