Ukraine
My delegation takes this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for the excellent report on transport. It gives us a detailed picture of transport developments in the world and of the state of implementation of internationally ageed
transport‐related goals. As we have recognized during CSD‐9 and CSD‐14, transport plays an important role for sustainable development. Despite remarkable progress made in transport planning, infrastructure and technologies over recent decades, its environmental impact is still alarming. As clearly shown in the SG report, over the last recent decades the use of energy for transport has grown both in developed and developing countries. It is undeniable that an indefinite continuation of current trends poses a major challenge. In order to move transport to a more sustainable basis, additional measures are needed to cut the level of carbon dioxide emissions from trt
anspor, the consumption of fossil fuels and air and noise pollution. As far as Ukraine is concerned, energy consumption to GDP ratio in my country is presently 2.6 times higher than the world?s average. Energy efficiency in the transport sector remains low due to the insufficient infrastructure as well as the lack of advanced tchnologies. To resolve this problem, the Programme of energy saving in the transport sector was approved in 2006. This programme envisages the remodeling of the transport infrastructure, technological modernization of basic transport facilities, and improvement of energy efficiency in vehicles as well as improvement of the legal framework and administrative capacity. Measures are also
being taken to apply EU acquis, particularly European emissions standards. However, we note that our domestic efforts, while important, will not by themselves be sufficient to reverse the growth trend in energy consumption. For us, attracting clean energy technologies continues to be part of the solution, and cooperation with donor countries and the business community to boost innovation and R&
D is equally important. here is a great untapped potential for developing new and alternative source
T
s of energy. Renewable sources of energy can be an alternative to fossil fuels. As oil prices continue to rise, the use of synthetic liquid fuels could make a significant contribution to sustainable development. Hydrogen and fuel cells are also expected to play a greater role in the future as a means of decarbonising the transport secto.
At the same time, it should be noted that none of those alternative fuels can be a panacea. Alternative motor fuels will co‐exist with fossil fuels . To reverse this trend, n
ew ground‐braking R&D is needed. Alternative fuels, particularly biofuels, can have certain negative effects such as depletion of water and soil resources and rise in food prices. Therefore, there is a clear need for a balanced technology‐based and state‐monitored approach to regulat
e their use. Ukraine attaches great importance to the development of the transport sector as preparations are intensifying for the 2012 Eurpean Football Championship, to be co‐hosted by my country. A number of Presidential Decrees were adopted to foster safe, efficient and comfortable travel in Ukraine. They focus, among others, on achieving the following objectives: aligning the transport sector with European standargirastructure
rds, developing airports and modenizin road‐transport nf. Ukrainian transport authorities have also developed a draft ?Transport Strategy of Ukraine 2020?. This initiative aims to provide a policy framework for sustainable transport development which would build upon improved safet, environ
mental performance and security. An important step towards reduction of motor transport emissions should be expansion of the railroad freight activities in Uraine. With this objective in view, our Government took a number of important decisions that include considerable State budget investments into modernization of te national railway rolling stock as well as improvement and expansion of the railway network. A positive socioeconomic effect of the mentioned measures should be substantial. To ensure tangible results of this work, in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukrain?s decision the State Strategy of Railway Transport Development 2010 wa approv
e
e in December, 2009. Having chosen sustainable transport as one of the priorities leading to EURO‐2012, we look forward to actively working with donor communities? and other partnes in implementing a series of ambitious transport investment plans and project
r
s.
To conclude, I would like to make the following points: ‐ Ukraine supports the idea of development of time bound targets to measure decrease in the use of energy in the world transpor sector as well as to measure
a
an increase in the use of alternative motor fuels; ‐ As a matter of priority, the delegation of Ukraine would like to encourage further international cooperation in the transport sector, particularly the transfer and dissemination of appropriate technologies and investment in transport
infrastructureinternatio
. This objective is a key contribution to the attainment of the
nally agreed transport‐related goals; ‐ Ukraine proposes to establish regional and national centres of environmentally safe and energy efficient transport, which would aim at conducting R&D, dissemination of scientific, technical and business information regarding ways to enhance energy efficiency, environmental safety, the use of alternative fuels and innovat
tive transport echnologies and promoting business projects. CSD18 offers an important opportunity to place transport higher on the international agenda, so as to evaluate and maximize the beneficial effects of transport sector transformations on trade, employment, development, the environment and climate change. My delegation believes that the Commission shouldseize this momentum to map out a new vision on transport for sustainable deveopment.
transport‐related goals. As we have recognized during CSD‐9 and CSD‐14, transport plays an important role for sustainable development. Despite remarkable progress made in transport planning, infrastructure and technologies over recent decades, its environmental impact is still alarming. As clearly shown in the SG report, over the last recent decades the use of energy for transport has grown both in developed and developing countries. It is undeniable that an indefinite continuation of current trends poses a major challenge. In order to move transport to a more sustainable basis, additional measures are needed to cut the level of carbon dioxide emissions from trt
anspor, the consumption of fossil fuels and air and noise pollution. As far as Ukraine is concerned, energy consumption to GDP ratio in my country is presently 2.6 times higher than the world?s average. Energy efficiency in the transport sector remains low due to the insufficient infrastructure as well as the lack of advanced tchnologies. To resolve this problem, the Programme of energy saving in the transport sector was approved in 2006. This programme envisages the remodeling of the transport infrastructure, technological modernization of basic transport facilities, and improvement of energy efficiency in vehicles as well as improvement of the legal framework and administrative capacity. Measures are also
being taken to apply EU acquis, particularly European emissions standards. However, we note that our domestic efforts, while important, will not by themselves be sufficient to reverse the growth trend in energy consumption. For us, attracting clean energy technologies continues to be part of the solution, and cooperation with donor countries and the business community to boost innovation and R&
D is equally important. here is a great untapped potential for developing new and alternative source
T
s of energy. Renewable sources of energy can be an alternative to fossil fuels. As oil prices continue to rise, the use of synthetic liquid fuels could make a significant contribution to sustainable development. Hydrogen and fuel cells are also expected to play a greater role in the future as a means of decarbonising the transport secto.
At the same time, it should be noted that none of those alternative fuels can be a panacea. Alternative motor fuels will co‐exist with fossil fuels . To reverse this trend, n
ew ground‐braking R&D is needed. Alternative fuels, particularly biofuels, can have certain negative effects such as depletion of water and soil resources and rise in food prices. Therefore, there is a clear need for a balanced technology‐based and state‐monitored approach to regulat
e their use. Ukraine attaches great importance to the development of the transport sector as preparations are intensifying for the 2012 Eurpean Football Championship, to be co‐hosted by my country. A number of Presidential Decrees were adopted to foster safe, efficient and comfortable travel in Ukraine. They focus, among others, on achieving the following objectives: aligning the transport sector with European standargirastructure
rds, developing airports and modenizin road‐transport nf. Ukrainian transport authorities have also developed a draft ?Transport Strategy of Ukraine 2020?. This initiative aims to provide a policy framework for sustainable transport development which would build upon improved safet, environ
mental performance and security. An important step towards reduction of motor transport emissions should be expansion of the railroad freight activities in Uraine. With this objective in view, our Government took a number of important decisions that include considerable State budget investments into modernization of te national railway rolling stock as well as improvement and expansion of the railway network. A positive socioeconomic effect of the mentioned measures should be substantial. To ensure tangible results of this work, in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukrain?s decision the State Strategy of Railway Transport Development 2010 wa approv
e
e in December, 2009. Having chosen sustainable transport as one of the priorities leading to EURO‐2012, we look forward to actively working with donor communities? and other partnes in implementing a series of ambitious transport investment plans and project
r
s.
To conclude, I would like to make the following points: ‐ Ukraine supports the idea of development of time bound targets to measure decrease in the use of energy in the world transpor sector as well as to measure
a
an increase in the use of alternative motor fuels; ‐ As a matter of priority, the delegation of Ukraine would like to encourage further international cooperation in the transport sector, particularly the transfer and dissemination of appropriate technologies and investment in transport
infrastructureinternatio
. This objective is a key contribution to the attainment of the
nally agreed transport‐related goals; ‐ Ukraine proposes to establish regional and national centres of environmentally safe and energy efficient transport, which would aim at conducting R&D, dissemination of scientific, technical and business information regarding ways to enhance energy efficiency, environmental safety, the use of alternative fuels and innovat
tive transport echnologies and promoting business projects. CSD18 offers an important opportunity to place transport higher on the international agenda, so as to evaluate and maximize the beneficial effects of transport sector transformations on trade, employment, development, the environment and climate change. My delegation believes that the Commission shouldseize this momentum to map out a new vision on transport for sustainable deveopment.
Stakeholders