Sustainable Development

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is defined as balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment. A common definition of sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental protection, economic sustainability, and social justice.

Developments and trends

Mobility is our fundamental necessity of 21st century living and brings access to primary services and leisure. But today, current patterns of provision and consumption of mobility are unsustainable and cities all over the world suffer from high levels of traffic related congestion, pollution and the degradation of communities and social dysfunction. 

Addressing the issue of climate change is a key topic for all, and for transport in particular. At present CO2 (one of the seven greenhouse gas emissions) from transport are growing despite improvements in technology and fuels mainly due to the sheer increase of the number of trips made.

For the first time in human history more than 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas (UN-HABITAT 2007). As cities grow their ecological impact increases, and despite the unparalleled flexibility and freedom a car might bring, a city cannot function without public transport. Public transport is vital for future development and the sector is making significant efforts to ensure that it is able to help ensure that citizens today can enjoy a high quality of life in a safe, and healthy environment

UITP Sustainable Development Charter

UITP launched a Charter on Sustainable Development in 2003 to increase awareness within the sector on the importance of this issue and to recognize the commitment of UITP members. Only UITP members may sign the Charter to make a voluntary but measurable commitment to monitor, measure and report on their own performance.

The signatories have developed the following definition of sustainable development and public transport:

UITP’s Commission on Sustainable Development manages the Charter process.

See List of charter signatories
See UITP Commission on Sustainable Development and Working Groups

All Charter signatories may send a representative to the working group meetings but membership of the UITP Commission on Sustainable Development is by invitation only.

Coaching and Training workshops are held regularly, please check the Next Events section for more information

Read more
Initiatives undertaken by a selection of Charter Signatories
A new energy cocktail for a new age of mobility
The full issue of PTI 2008 dedicated to Sustainable Development - Making tomorrow today is available to members in Mobi+.
A low carbon future with public transport
See the Tool kit for reducing carbon emissions from transport
Fuel choices for public transport - Environmental demands and efficiency
Tackling Social Exclusion - The role of public transport      
‘Public Transport International Magazine dedicated its issue 04/2006 to Sustainable Development. UITP members can read the full issue in Mobi+. (www.uitp.org/mos )
Public Transport International Magazine issue 05/2003 Sustainable Development - Not just a lot of hot air. The full issue is available to members in Mobi+ (www.uitp.org/mos )

	First results from UITP's Sustainable Development Charter Reporting Framework Published: April 2011 Download PDF
	2025: PTx2 - Signatories to the UITP Sustainable Development Charter are helping to make this ambitious strategy a reality Published: April 2011 Download PDF
	2nd Sustainable Development Conference 'Making Tomorrow Today' Milan, October 2008 Conference proceedings Available in our Publications store
	1st UITP Handbook on Sustainable Development A reference manual for Charter signatories. Published : October 2008 This is the first handbook on Environmentally Sustainable Technologies (EST) and services in the form of a catalogue aimed at highlighting sustainable solutions in public transport. This UITP initiative organised in conjunction with the 2nd Conference on Sustainable Development 'Making Tomorrow Today', Milan, October 2008 presents a list of inserts from signatories to the UITP Sustainable Development Charter and other partners. It is available to all UITP members in Mobi+. This handbook serves as a reference document for all signatories and for UITP members interested in finding suppliers of environmentally, sustainable products and services.
	Making tomorrow today Mapping the progress in sustainable development in the public transport sector 2005-07 Published: March 2007 Report : 55 pages - 6.70 Mb.
	Bringing quality to life The contribution of the public transport sector to sustainable development illustrated with best practices from signatories to the UITP Sustainable Development Charter. Published: January 2005 Report : 52 pages - 5 Mb.   Executive Summary of report : 6 pages - 500 Kb.
	Ticket to the Future 3 stops to Sustainable Mobility This 40 page brochure, with international examples, sets out as 3 ‘stops’ the challenges for cities and regions to meet these mobility needs in a sustainable manner, and the fundamental contribution of public transport makes and establishes actions required by all stakeholders to achieve these goals. The world-wide examples have been chosen to demonstrate that every change, even small ones, add up to build more sustainable transport networks, bringing the benefits of mobility to all rather than just a few. Published: January 2004 Brochure : 40 pages  Executive Summary

UITP members: check the calendar of internal meetings here

UITP Commission on Sustainable Development

List of members  Working groups  Information for members

Introduction

The Commission on Sustainable Development was founded in 2005. It deals with all issues related to public transport and sustainable development. It is also responsible for managing the UITP Sustainable Development Charter.

The core task of the Commission is to develop indicators for public transport organisations to be able to report on their environmental, social and economic performance. The other main topics of the working programme are:

• The UITP Sustainable Development Charter
• Climate change and Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
• Clean air
• Energy
• Social inclusion, diversity and health

The current Chairman of the UITP Sustainable Development Commission is John Inglish, CEO of Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City.

CONTACT: Philip Turner

• Sustainable Development Working Group on CO2 (focus Europe)
• ISO 26000 Working Group
  

Information for members

The Terms of Reference of UITP Divisions and Commissions are only available to UITP members. Please enter your login and password here and click on the section ‘Working bodies’ in the menu.