The International Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Transport was held
on 23-25 March 2003 in Nagoya, Japan, jointly organised and hosted by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japan's Ministry
of the Environment, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The
meeting reviewed major trends in Asian countries, highlighted progress and
remaining challenges, learned from the OECD's work on environmentally
sustainable transport (EST), and considered policies and measures for achieving
EST. This statement summarises the findings and conclusions of the conference.
In the context of sustainable development, EST means transport development that
meets the needs of the present without preventing future generations from
meeting their needs. Achieving EST is a major challenge faced by countries
around the world, not only OECD countries but also other Asian countries. In
Asia, there are serious transport-related economic and environmental problems,
including traffic congestion, inefficient energy use, air and water pollution,
and noise. These problems are caused by significant increases in traffic demand
resulting from rapid economic growth and urbanisation, poor control of vehicular
emissions, and lack of appropriate infrastructure.
The diverse and unique transport systems in Asia have coped with different types
of demand for over a century. The numerous positive Asian models are known
throughout the world, particularly those concerning passenger transport. Among
many examples are the dense urban and interurban railway networks of Japan and
Korea and Singapore's advanced systems of demand management, including road
pricing. In some Asian countries, public transport systems can provide seamless,
almost door-to-door service for large numbers of residents. In other countries,
a variety of non-motorised and economical transport systems provide essential
service.
However, the high growth in motorised road transport-including two-wheeled
vehicles, cars, and trucks-has partly offset the advantages of these transport
systems. This rapid motorisation, together with weak land-use planning, fills
urban space, accelerates suburbanisation leading to development of an
inefficient urban structure that results in unnecessary energy use and negative
environment impacts.
In developing countries, public transport is usually heavily road-dependent.
Urban and inter-city rail transit systems are yet to be developed or need much
further expansion and improvement. Economic conditions can require the use of
low-quality fuels and poorly maintained low-quality vehicles, leading to high
levels of pollution and inefficient fuel use.
Asia is expected to achieve significant economic growth during the 21st century.
This growth will not be sustainable unless issues of transport-related air
pollution and use of fossil fuels are addressed. There is need to establish
clear environmental goals and timetables that are appropriate to local
circumstances and to identify ways of meeting these goals while ensuring social
and economic development. This is especially important for developing countries,
which have shorter cycles of economic growth and urbanisation, and therefore
need timely implementation of effective measures.
The significant achievements that have already been made throughout Asia provide
a strong foundation for further progress towards an Asian EST. Development and
promotion of an Asian EST will require substantial improvements in technology
and in transport demand management. Effective policy instruments could include
pricing, spatial planning, development of green transport infrastructure,
investment in technology, tighter emissions standards, vehicle inspection
systems, and other economic and regulatory policy instruments. An Asian EST
could build on the OECD's work on EST, including OECD's EST Guidelines and the
proposals for use of a goal-oriented approach, while taking into account Asia's
special transport characteristics and needs.
Asian countries and regions are encouraged to: