UNECE AND WHO LINK TRANSPORT, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT

UNCLAS GENEVA 000091 STATE FOR OES/EGC FOR GTHOMPSON STATE FOR OES/ENV FOR JMATUSZAK, ASALZBERG STATE FOR IO/EDA FOR RWEBBER STATE FOR EUR/PGI FOR DTESSLER NAIROBI FOR USUNEP FOR JSTEWART EU EMBASSIES FOR EST OFFICERS EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL/ GRUNDLER DOT FOR LINDA LAWSON AND CAMILLE MITTELHOLTZ DHHS FOR OS/OGHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG EIND UN ECE ECOSOC SUBJECT: UNECE AND WHO LINK TRANSPORT, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT ¶1. SUMMARY: In response to the global economic crisis, officials discussed how to tailor fiscal stimulus packages for transport projects to best benefit health and the environment at a UNECE/WHO conference in Amsterdam January 22-23. Building roads and bridges may help the economy in the short term, but a more sustainable approach may be to include simple alternatives, such as bicycle lanes and sidewalks, in all urban planning. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) organized a high-level conference on transport, heath and the environment, the third of a series, attracting officials from European Transport, Health and Environment ministries as well as representatives from NGOs and business associations. The meeting took place in Amsterdam January 22-23. ¶3. Participants adopted the "Amsterdam Declaration on Transport Choices for our Health, Environment and Prosperity." Though not binding, countries agreed upon four priorities. First, direct investment to transport that is friendly to the environment and health. Second, raise awareness of mobility choices. Third, reduce emissions of transport-related greenhouse gases, air pollutants and noise. Last, promote policies conducive to healthy and safe modes of transport by a proper design of urban areas and transport infrastructure, focusing on children and the elderly. Investment in healthy and green transport, clean and efficient public transport systems and transport infrastructure, can help reduce congestion, road traffic accidents and pollution, thereby contributing to healthier societies, sustainable mobility and wealth, and to combating climate change. ¶4. The Amsterdam Meeting agreed on new implementation mechanisms for the 2009-2014 work plan of THE PEP (Transport, Health, and Environment pan-European program),such as: -- National Transport, Health and Environment Action Plans (NTHEAPs) that include targets and timetables for national implementation in line with country needs; -- Workshops to exchange experiences among interested countries; and, -- Partnerships to make expertise available. ¶5. COMMENT: Officials agreed that the economic recession could lead governments to make choices that will simply lead to more cars on the roads, worsening air pollution and increasing health and safety risks. However, it also represents an opportunity to permanently alter unsustainable economic activities. Although geography will lead to differing solutions (the bike paths that work so well in flat countries like Holland are unlikely to do so well in mountainous countries like Tajikistan),many countries expressed an unabashed eagerness for change.