Austria
Director General of the Department of General Environmental Policy of the Austrian
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished Delegates,
I have been listening carefully to all the excellent ideas that have emerged during this
session. They will certainly contribute to preparing the next key steps in the right
direction in terms of a modern transport and mobility management. When asking
ourselves what the major challenges we are facing in the 21st century regarding
transport and mobility management are, I should like ? in addition to what has been
said on behalf of the EU and its 27 member states - to highlight a couple of aspects:
There can?t be any doubt about the fact that the modern world is a world of increased
mobility; modern people are mobile people, or, at least, they show a strong tendency
to move permanently (regardless if this occurs as a result of their work-life or as a
result of their private interests, e.g. tourism). Thus, there is an increased demand for
adequate transport modes and systems as well as for a sound designed
infrastructure; doubtless, more transport often means more traffic (if not, sometimes,
an endangering or a standstill of mobility) all over ? in the streets, on railway tracks,
and in the air ? followed by an increasingly negative environmental impact. Policy
makers and all stakeholders are challenged to find and formulate a sound policy in
this regard:
It is therefore necessary to further establish modern and sound mobility management
on local, national and international levels that meets both the increasing public
demand and the requirements for a healthy and, in particular, sustainable
environment. While stipulating obsolete models, such new management concepts
have to offer affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally
sound transport services and systems, and it would be an asset, if they also could
challenge the private transport industry creatively. Respecting the key requirements
for sustainable development, the existing modern technologies should be used in a
much more efficient way. Modern transport and mobility management certainly has to
include an integrated management of all modes of transport ? in streets, on railways,
on water and in the air -, and therefore requires a well tuned coordination and
cooperation of all players involved. The necessary measures must go beyond only
technical aspects and have to give proof of better logistics for sustainable transport.
An additional challenge for modern mobility management of the 21st century is
certainly given by the further need for and integrated urban and regional transport
planning as well as for an adequate land use planning: it is obvious that bad planning
leads to increased traffic, whereas sound management is characterized by a targeted
and effective settlement policy, by the strengthening of the public transport system as
well as by supportive fiscal and regulatory policies. This planning has to include both
transboundary public transport services and the implementation of connections of
supra-regional traffic infrastructure to the regional ones. Improved offering of and
access to public information on environmentally friendly transport and travel
opportunities require cooperation of all players involved, public administration as well
as private stakeholders in the traffic, tourism and regional development sectors.
Austria supports and stimulates partnerships in working towards creating an
environmentally friendly, sustainable transport system emphasizing low-energy
modes of transport in Europe as well as on a national level to implement
environmentally sound mobility. We have launched the national ?klima:active mobil?-
programme for supporting cities, regions, and companies as well as schools for
implementing climate friendly mobility management. This initiative and its
programmes have shown quite successful results, as more than 700 partners are
already achieving a reduction of approximately up to 400.000 of CO2 emissions
every year. Investments in mobility management, renewable energy and electric
mobility, and cycling as well as innovative public transport help to protect the
environment and at the same time to stimulate our economy and to create green
jobs.
Thank you for your attention.
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished Delegates,
I have been listening carefully to all the excellent ideas that have emerged during this
session. They will certainly contribute to preparing the next key steps in the right
direction in terms of a modern transport and mobility management. When asking
ourselves what the major challenges we are facing in the 21st century regarding
transport and mobility management are, I should like ? in addition to what has been
said on behalf of the EU and its 27 member states - to highlight a couple of aspects:
There can?t be any doubt about the fact that the modern world is a world of increased
mobility; modern people are mobile people, or, at least, they show a strong tendency
to move permanently (regardless if this occurs as a result of their work-life or as a
result of their private interests, e.g. tourism). Thus, there is an increased demand for
adequate transport modes and systems as well as for a sound designed
infrastructure; doubtless, more transport often means more traffic (if not, sometimes,
an endangering or a standstill of mobility) all over ? in the streets, on railway tracks,
and in the air ? followed by an increasingly negative environmental impact. Policy
makers and all stakeholders are challenged to find and formulate a sound policy in
this regard:
It is therefore necessary to further establish modern and sound mobility management
on local, national and international levels that meets both the increasing public
demand and the requirements for a healthy and, in particular, sustainable
environment. While stipulating obsolete models, such new management concepts
have to offer affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally
sound transport services and systems, and it would be an asset, if they also could
challenge the private transport industry creatively. Respecting the key requirements
for sustainable development, the existing modern technologies should be used in a
much more efficient way. Modern transport and mobility management certainly has to
include an integrated management of all modes of transport ? in streets, on railways,
on water and in the air -, and therefore requires a well tuned coordination and
cooperation of all players involved. The necessary measures must go beyond only
technical aspects and have to give proof of better logistics for sustainable transport.
An additional challenge for modern mobility management of the 21st century is
certainly given by the further need for and integrated urban and regional transport
planning as well as for an adequate land use planning: it is obvious that bad planning
leads to increased traffic, whereas sound management is characterized by a targeted
and effective settlement policy, by the strengthening of the public transport system as
well as by supportive fiscal and regulatory policies. This planning has to include both
transboundary public transport services and the implementation of connections of
supra-regional traffic infrastructure to the regional ones. Improved offering of and
access to public information on environmentally friendly transport and travel
opportunities require cooperation of all players involved, public administration as well
as private stakeholders in the traffic, tourism and regional development sectors.
Austria supports and stimulates partnerships in working towards creating an
environmentally friendly, sustainable transport system emphasizing low-energy
modes of transport in Europe as well as on a national level to implement
environmentally sound mobility. We have launched the national ?klima:active mobil?-
programme for supporting cities, regions, and companies as well as schools for
implementing climate friendly mobility management. This initiative and its
programmes have shown quite successful results, as more than 700 partners are
already achieving a reduction of approximately up to 400.000 of CO2 emissions
every year. Investments in mobility management, renewable energy and electric
mobility, and cycling as well as innovative public transport help to protect the
environment and at the same time to stimulate our economy and to create green
jobs.
Thank you for your attention.
Stakeholders