Japan
Page 1 of 3
Statement by Mr. Masaya Sagawa
Delegation of Japan
Transport
Inter-governmental Preparatory Meeting
19th Session of the Commission of Sustainable Development
1 March 2011
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Introduction
Transport is an essential foundation of our society, supporting a wide range of
people?s socio economic activities, and is indispensable to achieve sustainable
development. In this regard, Japan welcomes CSD-19?s focusing on transport as its
thematic issue, and hopes that the meeting in May would indicate future directions of
policies for the global transport sector to develop along a new growth path toward
sustainable transport.
First, we would like to attract your attention to the ?big picture? of changes in the
global transport sector since CSD-9 in 2001. Developed countries have yet to
sufficiently achieve the transition to environmentally-friendly transport systems, while
Least Developed Countries have yet to successfully ensure people?s mobility and
accessibility. In addition, the arising situation is rapid motorization in emerging
economies .
Taking this ?big picture? into consideration, the main messages from CSD-19 should
focus on the following three points: (1) recognition of a vision of sustainable transport
that supports the three pillars of sustainable development: namely, economic, social
and environmental aspects; (2) proposals of policy packages to address rapid
motorization; and (3) enhancement of international cooperation to share best
practices and to strengthen capacity building.
Mr. Chairman,
Transport Strategies
Page 2 of 3
As is appropriately indicated by Paragraph 84 of the Report of the Secretary-General,
there is no ?one-size-fits-all? policy approach applicable to all countries and regions.
However, it is also true that policymakers must deal with transport as a system of all
modes, noting that a series of partially optimized policies could not necessarily
achieve the system-wide efficiency.
In this respect, each government should establish a comprehensive transport
strategy as the basis for better policies: the strategy should take into consideration all
modes of transport including motor vehicles, trains, ships , airplanes and
non-motorized transport; the strategy must also take an integrated approach where
various policy measures and instruments are utilized, from regulations and subsidies
to information provision.
Mr. Chairman,
Public Transport
Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, would require much greater
emphasis on the establishment of public transport systems for passenger transport
within and between urban areas. This is because transport infrastructure has lock-in
effects, and once automobile-dependent transport systems are established, people?s
lifestyle and economic activities would evolve on the basis of such systems, which
would make it more difficult to shift later towards sustainable transport systems.
In this respect, the final document should articulate the importance of establishing
public transport systems from mid- to long-term perspectives. Sustainable transport
systems consisting of BRT, LRT and MRT within cities and high-speed rail between
cities would contribute to achieving the three pillars of sustainable development.
Mr. Chairman,
Harmonization of Automobile Standards
As Paragraph 78 of the Report suggests, the ongoing rapid and large-scale
motorization, especially in emerging economies, requires enhancing international
cooperation in the harmonization of vehicle standards and regulations through
UNECE/WP.29 and other regional or international fora, which should also be
emphasized in the final text.
Page 3 of 3
Transport Statistical Data
It has been pointed out that transport statistical data have not been sufficiently
gathered and compiled in developing countries . In particular, rapidly growing intra -city
transport necessitates effective and robust policy planning based on voluntary and
continuous development of transport data , including the number of vehicles, traffic
volume, and so on. Therefore, the importance of transport data development cannot
be exaggerated .
Offsetting and Crediting in the Transport Sector
The importance of creating incentives for GHG emission reduction in the transport
sector should be emphasized. It should be encouraged to generate credits or offset
emissions within the transport sector, by further utilizing CDM.
Mr. Chairman,
Various Partnerships
In order to address various issues in the transport sector, it is not enough to rely on
unilateral efforts by each government. Multilayered intergovernmental partnerships
should be promoted among developed countries, among developing countries,
between developed and developing countries, and among local governments. In
addition, transport officials and experts are encouraged to enhance sharing of
information and exchanges of views to foster a global transport community, utilizing
existing organizations and meetings. For example, The Government of Japan in
cooperation with United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
established the "Regional EST Forum in Asia" in 2005 as a place to hold high-level
policy dialogues among governments in Asian nations with the objective of achieving
environmentally sustainable transport (EST) in Asian region . Also, transport
ministries of G8 countries and other major countries are working actively to enhance
international cooperation in the transport sector to tackle climate change and air
pollution via the Ministerial Conference on Global Environment and Energy in
Transport (MEET). Such efforts should be recognized and further encouraged in the
final text.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Statement by Mr. Masaya Sagawa
Delegation of Japan
Transport
Inter-governmental Preparatory Meeting
19th Session of the Commission of Sustainable Development
1 March 2011
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Introduction
Transport is an essential foundation of our society, supporting a wide range of
people?s socio economic activities, and is indispensable to achieve sustainable
development. In this regard, Japan welcomes CSD-19?s focusing on transport as its
thematic issue, and hopes that the meeting in May would indicate future directions of
policies for the global transport sector to develop along a new growth path toward
sustainable transport.
First, we would like to attract your attention to the ?big picture? of changes in the
global transport sector since CSD-9 in 2001. Developed countries have yet to
sufficiently achieve the transition to environmentally-friendly transport systems, while
Least Developed Countries have yet to successfully ensure people?s mobility and
accessibility. In addition, the arising situation is rapid motorization in emerging
economies .
Taking this ?big picture? into consideration, the main messages from CSD-19 should
focus on the following three points: (1) recognition of a vision of sustainable transport
that supports the three pillars of sustainable development: namely, economic, social
and environmental aspects; (2) proposals of policy packages to address rapid
motorization; and (3) enhancement of international cooperation to share best
practices and to strengthen capacity building.
Mr. Chairman,
Transport Strategies
Page 2 of 3
As is appropriately indicated by Paragraph 84 of the Report of the Secretary-General,
there is no ?one-size-fits-all? policy approach applicable to all countries and regions.
However, it is also true that policymakers must deal with transport as a system of all
modes, noting that a series of partially optimized policies could not necessarily
achieve the system-wide efficiency.
In this respect, each government should establish a comprehensive transport
strategy as the basis for better policies: the strategy should take into consideration all
modes of transport including motor vehicles, trains, ships , airplanes and
non-motorized transport; the strategy must also take an integrated approach where
various policy measures and instruments are utilized, from regulations and subsidies
to information provision.
Mr. Chairman,
Public Transport
Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, would require much greater
emphasis on the establishment of public transport systems for passenger transport
within and between urban areas. This is because transport infrastructure has lock-in
effects, and once automobile-dependent transport systems are established, people?s
lifestyle and economic activities would evolve on the basis of such systems, which
would make it more difficult to shift later towards sustainable transport systems.
In this respect, the final document should articulate the importance of establishing
public transport systems from mid- to long-term perspectives. Sustainable transport
systems consisting of BRT, LRT and MRT within cities and high-speed rail between
cities would contribute to achieving the three pillars of sustainable development.
Mr. Chairman,
Harmonization of Automobile Standards
As Paragraph 78 of the Report suggests, the ongoing rapid and large-scale
motorization, especially in emerging economies, requires enhancing international
cooperation in the harmonization of vehicle standards and regulations through
UNECE/WP.29 and other regional or international fora, which should also be
emphasized in the final text.
Page 3 of 3
Transport Statistical Data
It has been pointed out that transport statistical data have not been sufficiently
gathered and compiled in developing countries . In particular, rapidly growing intra -city
transport necessitates effective and robust policy planning based on voluntary and
continuous development of transport data , including the number of vehicles, traffic
volume, and so on. Therefore, the importance of transport data development cannot
be exaggerated .
Offsetting and Crediting in the Transport Sector
The importance of creating incentives for GHG emission reduction in the transport
sector should be emphasized. It should be encouraged to generate credits or offset
emissions within the transport sector, by further utilizing CDM.
Mr. Chairman,
Various Partnerships
In order to address various issues in the transport sector, it is not enough to rely on
unilateral efforts by each government. Multilayered intergovernmental partnerships
should be promoted among developed countries, among developing countries,
between developed and developing countries, and among local governments. In
addition, transport officials and experts are encouraged to enhance sharing of
information and exchanges of views to foster a global transport community, utilizing
existing organizations and meetings. For example, The Government of Japan in
cooperation with United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
established the "Regional EST Forum in Asia" in 2005 as a place to hold high-level
policy dialogues among governments in Asian nations with the objective of achieving
environmentally sustainable transport (EST) in Asian region . Also, transport
ministries of G8 countries and other major countries are working actively to enhance
international cooperation in the transport sector to tackle climate change and air
pollution via the Ministerial Conference on Global Environment and Energy in
Transport (MEET). Such efforts should be recognized and further encouraged in the
final text.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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