Public Transport at the Forefront: Key Messages from Global Leaders

It goes without saying that a green recovery is highly important to us here at UITP. We also definitively know that public transport is vital to it.

For this reason, as a proud Partner of the Urban 20 (U20) Initiative – a platform bringing city leaders from around the world together to inform discussions of national leaders – we are happy to see a strong support towards public transport in the recently released Communiqué to the G20.

Let us take a closer look at some of the key points!

This Communiqué puts forward exactly the type of messaging we need as the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are delighted to contribute to a call for investment in public transport in a wider strategy to achieve a green and just recovery, alongside ensuring no one is left behind by guaranteeing public transport that improves resilience and reduces inequalities.

We know that public transport is a vital part of the solution in tackling major issues in climate, health, road safety, the economy and social inclusion. For this reason, last year we released our highly anticipated Policy Brief, Cities for People: Public Transport for Better Lives.

Public transport is vital in leaving no one and no place behind, reducing health expenditures and addressing air quality and climate change. This policy brief states the undisputed benefits of public transport to society and then sets out the facts with concise recommendations backed up by the international Paris Agreement for decision makers. An important document not to be missed!

This month the UITP Digital World Tour has continued with our Latin America Week! This two-day digital event between the 22 and 23 June showcases how the mobility sector in Latin America can advance and improve life in cities!

The event also marked the first UITP event in the tenure of the newly elected president Khalid Alhogail.

We would like to give a big thank you to our many speakers, all of whom bring a broad reflection on national, regional and local public policies to this event.

Specifically, we would like to thank the high-level decision makers, whose strategic vision, political leadership, and commitment to guarantee a stable financing framework for the sector keep inspiring us.

A big thank to you to Mrs. Claudia Dobles, First Lady of Costa Rica; Mrs. Ángela María Orozco, Minister of  Transport of Colombia; Mr. Eduardo González, Minister of Transport and Communications of Perú; Mrs. Gloria Hutt, Minister of Transport and Communications of Chile; Mr. Marcelo Cabrera, Minister of Transport and Public Works of Ecuador; Mr. Elkin Velasquez, UN-HABITAT Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean; Mrs. Claudia López, Mayor of Bogotá; Mr. Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, Mayor of Buenos Aires; Mr. José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid and President of UCCI; and Mr. Miguel Lunghi, Mayor of Tandil and President of Mercociudades.

We look forward to continuing these great collaborations!

Discover more on the UITP Digital World Tour here.