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ISSUE:4

QUESTION OF: Enhancing access to sustainable urban and rural transport

MAIN-SUBMITTER: Azerbaijan

CO-SUBMITTERS: Switzerland, Haiti, Ethiopia, Mexico, Madagascar, Jamaica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Russia

THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE,

Fully aware that petroleum consumed by transportation accounts for 28% of greenhouse gas emission around the world,

Emphasizing thata fundamental change is needed in the way transportation is approached, as fossil fuels should be discouragedand replaced with alternative and future energies,

Keeping in mind thatthe enhancement of transportation often requires improvement and development of infrastructure such as, but not limited to, roads and railways,

Fully aware that certain LEDCs might not have the capital or capability to organize or executeelaborate projects concerning new infrastructure and systems,

Convinced that current transportation systems and trends should become more environmentally conscious,

Congratulating countries that maintain functioning bicycle transportation systems as sustainable mobility infrastructure, such as, but not limited to, the Netherlands and Belgium,

Acknowledging current investments on sustainable projects, such as, but not limited to, the Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP) ´s Sustainable Transport Award,

Realizing that instituting reformed public transportationinitiatives may result in decongested roads which might derive fewer road accidents, easier parking, and lower maintenance costs for roads,

Taking into consideration that quick access to basic transport reduces vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters,

  1. Encourages the use of renewable energy for transportation and switch from petroleum to sustainable energy based vehicles by:

a)Supporting the current projectsregarding renewable energies such as, but not limited to, anaerobic digestion, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectricity, solar, tidal and wind,

b)Subsidizing firms that produce goods and services pertaining to transport that operate on renewable energy to advocate the shift of operating from fossil fuels to sustainable energies;

  1. Expresses its hope that MEDCs will take projects that will encourage the public to use sustainable and eco-friendly methods of transportation by:

a)Advocating for a reduced tax for drivers who are driving green vehicles such as, but not limited to, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, bio-fuel vehicles, bio ethanol vehicles and natural gas vehicles,

b)Ensuring anindependent line for public transportation such as bus and tram systems,

c)Encouraging the installation of a carbon tax for vehicles consuming excessive fossil-fuels,

d)Promoting private companies to encourage carpooling systems among their employees,

e)Encouraging the use of sustainable energy based vehicles by government employees by way of government funded aid,

f)Implementation of community vehicle initiative, where by a public/private enterprise creates a sustainable community vehicle infrastructure, sustained by membership fees;

  1. Suggeststhat LEDCs adopt a bicycle system for their populationsto use for short distance transportation by:

a)Welcoming and advocatingany support program providing LEDCs with an adequate number of bicycles, relative to the needs of the member state by:

i)Subsidizing bicycle production companies to erectmanufacturing plants in LEDCs,

ii)Suggesting a standardization of bicycle models so that mass production and cheaper cost can take place,

b)Recommending mandatory education to the students on how to ride a bicycle and its safety measures,

c)Constructing minor facilities for bicycles such as, but not limited to, bicycle roads, bicycle parking spots and repair centers,

d)Mandatingthat parking areas for bicycles are readily available;

  1. Requests the improvement and creation of efficient and effective roads and rail infrastructure throughout all member nations by:
  2. Endorsing the creation and maintenance of trans-national road and rail systems, through national firms and government cooperation, under the supervision of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP),
  3. Inviting all member states to foster or maintain a sustainable trans-national-operating bussing system, either through government sponsorship or private initiative;
  1. Decides remain actively seized upon this matter.