Sustainable transport systems: trends and policies

Abstract

Sustainable transport systems meet all the main principles of sustainable development: protection of public health and environmental quality, respect of the ecosystems, limitation of emissions, sustainable use of renewable resources and minimum use of non-renewable resources. In the framework of this paper, the international trends and policies concerning sustainable transport systems are presented and discussed. The international organisations, which set these policies, are also presented. More specifically, the O.E.C.D. (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) guidelines towards environmentally sustainable transport are considered to be very important. In addition, the European Community moves towards the implementation of a common transport policy facing two basic issues: breaking the link between economic growth and transport growth and achieving equal growth of all transport modes. Moreover, the E.C.M.T. (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) tries to create an integrated transport system through member countries and the rest of the continent by analysing environmental, social and traffic policy issues. Furthermore, the role of World Bank is considered to be very important in obtaining transport social sustainability, as it contributes to the creation of essential transport infrastructure in developing countries. Finally, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (W.B.C.S.D.) started in 2002 the Sustainable Mobility Project, in order to set the goals of a sustainable transport system.