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.