UITP - International Association of Public Transport

Advocacy and outreach

The Kyoto protocol established in 1997 came into force in 2005. However, the protocol runs out in 2012 and a new international agreement must be forged this December in Copenhagen, with the details being worked out between 2009 and 2012.

Transport has not performed well and the sector now accounts for 13% of global GHG1s and 23% of energy related CO2 emissions (all modes). The Kyoto mechanisms are not well adapted to transport and the sector has not benefitted,
like other sectors such as the power sector, from any new streams of finance from either the regulated or the voluntary carbon markets.

Emission trends from transport are worrying and by 2050 the OECD/ITF2 calculates a 120% growth of global transport
emissions compared to 2000. Indeed, if the sectors of transport and buildings are not addressed in the next agreement, CO2 emissions will not be contained and climate change cannot be limited to 2 degrees – the level which would allow basic human and animal life as we know it to continue. This presents both a risk and an opportunity.

At present, transport, and certainly urban transport, does not yet feature strongly – but due to the increases in levels of emissions, this will almost certainly change. Public transport should not be complacent, reassured by its relatively good
performance to date and an increased knowledge and use of many of the new technologies and alternative fuels.
The risks for the public transport are significant and we need to be well prepared. Strong arguments and a thorough
understanding of this issue are part of that preparation if we are to benefit, as most other sectors have, from money made
available from various funds and the auctioning of credits.

The debate is long and complex, but UITP is ready to help support its members to ensure that the sector is well prepared for
a low carbon future.

What UITP is doing

UITP has been actively following this issue internationally since 2003. Our outreach and involvement has increased in line not only with the growing political and public interest in this topic but also as the Kyoto protocol needs to be replaced with a new agreement in December 2009.
This work is being supported by UITP’s Sustainable Development Commission. UITP is also a partner with TRL (Transport Research Laboratory UK), GTZ (the German Technical Cooperation Agency) and Veolia Transport working on climate change issues (see web site at www.transport2012.org ).

See the Advocacy Overview 2009 (Jan-Dec)
(Climate Change and Sustainable Development update)

Download the evaluation report of Copenhagen 2009 (PDF)

How members can take part

• Send a letter to national climate change coordinators (focal points) or negotiators to get support for a better deal for transport in the post 2012 agreement (draft letter in preparation)). If you need help with the person to contact, please contact Philip Turner

• Send a letter to national ministries – transport and environment – to get support for better statistics and research (draft letter in preparation).

• Share with UITP your climate change action plans and targets (and if they are part of a metropolitan/ city wide action plan) for inclusion in our climate inventory, contact Philip Turner

• Take part in one of UITP climate change events

           Next events:
          Climate Change Information Session, 18 September 2009, Brussels, read more
          Bridging the Gap Workshop, 25 September, Bangkok, Thailand
          Events in preparation for United Nations Climate Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 3-18 December 2009

• Increase public awareness - Use the UITP UNEP ‘The world is your home. Look after it’ 30 second ad in public awareness campaigns leading up to the major climate change conference in Copenhagen, December 2009. To find out more and view the ad in several languages, see our dedicated webpage.

Kyoto Protocol – general background information on the Kyoto Protocol - Download PDF

Carbon emission reductions and examples – examples of carbon reduced or avoided by using public transport - Download PDF

Calculating carbon reductions – an overview - Download PDF

Public transport and Carbon Trading: some reflections
Outline on carbon trading and some reflections on public transport and carbon trading - Download PPT

Briefing for the Swedish Presidency (August 2009) - Download PDF

Powerpoint presentations: Please feel free to use these slides in your own presentations
(using UITP as a source)

Climate Change – general background information – Download

Energy Consumption – details and statistics on energy efficient public transport - Download

Modal shift – playing a role in reducing emissions - Download

Communicating Climate change – the UITP Climate Change communication gallery of campaigns
that use this as a key message for behaviour change - Download

UITP Focus Papers (official UITP position)

A low carbon future with public transport
- January 2007

Fact sheet from UITP’s strategy for the public transport sector: PT x 2

Helps the planet breathe – Download PDF

Other useful documents

- Examples of carbon calculation from signatories (in preparation)

- Bridging the Gap 10 Principles

- Bellagio Declaration

- Update from Switzerland (Bern)

- In UITP’s electronic library Mobi+ : Presentations from UITP’s Sustainable Development Conference
‘Making Tomorrow Today’, October 2008, Milan, Italy

Further reading and useful web sites