Download PRESS RELEASE – Wednesday 28 January 2015 16th CODATU

PRESS RELEASE – Wednesday 28 January 2015
16th CODATU CONFERENCE:
THE INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF LEADERS ON
LOW-CARBON URBAN MOBILITY
The CODATU XVI conference will take place from 2 - 5 February 2015 in Istanbul. With high-level
participants from cities in emerging and developing countries, the gathering will offer the opportunity to
unite decision-makers in urban mobility who wish to take action against climate change.
The 16th conference of CODATU, an international network specialised in issues of urban mobility in
developing countries, will bring together nearly 400 public decision-makers, private sector leaders and
researchers from more than 40 countries. During the four days of the conference, hosted by the
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi (İTÜ), one of Turkey’s most prestigious schools, talks will focus on the
energy challenges of urban mobility and the impact on climate and air quality.
URBAN TRANSPORT TAKES ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The first international event of 2015 to address the issues and challenges of climate change as pertains to
the urban transport sector, the CODATU XVI conference aims to federate actors in the lead-up to
COP21 and to promote measures for mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions inherent to
transport.
In both the northern and southern hemispheres, urban transport policies aim to reduce dependency on
individual modes of transport, in favour of collective and active modes. These actions, which are designed
to address local conditions (economic competitiveness, congestion reduction, social balance, public
health, road safety, quality of life, etc.), also contribute to the fight against global climate change.
As a driving force for innovation and transformation of living conditions, urban mobility defines new
paths for development adapted to the challenges of the 21st century. The conference will highlight areas
for action in line with the declaration “We have more than transport in common” c’est ça la
traduction? Je ne suis pas au bureau pour vérifier which has already been signed by elected officials,
executives and experts on urban mobility.
HIGH-LEVEL REPRESENTATION
During the conference, Kadir Topbaş, Mayor of Istanbul (Turkey) and President of United Cities and
Local Governments (UCLG), Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogota (Colombia) and Mohamed Sajid, Mayor
of Casablanca (Morocco) – among others – will speak about the policies implemented in their
metropolitan areas and the challenges ahead to offer their residents the best mobility solutions.
Suzana Kahn Ribeiro, Vice-President of Working Group III of the IPCC and professor at the Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro, Sanjivi Sundar, Professor emeritus at The Energy Research Institute
(TERI) and David Banister, Professor at the University of Oxford – to name but a few – will give their
analyses of the environmental stakes tied to urban mobility.
Pierre Mongin, CEO of RATP, and Jean-Pierre Farandou, CEO of Kéolis, will explain the experience
of their public transport operating companies, with Alain Flausch, secretary general of the UITP,
speaking about the revolution underway in urban transport.
STRONG MOBILISATION OF FRENCH OFFICIALS
In light of France’s special role as host of the next climate conference in December 2015, there will be a
strong contingent of French representatives to mobilise local authorities and urban transport experts in
preparation of COP21 and to dialogue with actors of the global South who wish to pursue ambitious
transport policies.
Confirmed participants include: Louis Nègre, Mayor of Cagnes sur Mer, Senator from Alpes-Maritimes,
President of the French Group of Transport Authorities (GART), Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg,
Senator from Bas-Rhin and President of United Cities France, Ronan Dantec, Senator from LoireAtlantique and spokesman of the UCLG on Climate, Bernard Rivalta, President of SYTRAL, Pierre
Serne, Vice-President of the Ile-de-France Region, Yann Mongaburu, Vice-President of Grenoble
Métropole, Bernard Soulage, Vice-President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, and many others.
For further information
See the complete programme on: http://www.codatu.org/actualites/avant-premiere-du-programme-de-laconference-codatu-xvi/
Read the declaration “We have more than transport in common”: http://www.codatu.org/signez-ladeclaration-nous-avons-bien-plus-que-les-transports-en-commun/
The association CODATU was established in 1980, following the world conference on urban transport
organised in Dakar. Its members are actors of the transport and urban mobility sector: local authorities,
ministries, universities and research institutes, companies and consultants. The mission of the association
is to promote the exchange of knowledge and know-how in order to foster the implementation of policies
for sustainable urban mobility in developing countries. It organises international conferences, offers
training programmes for decision-makers of the global South and publishes works in this field. CODATU
also provides support services for cooperation projects between different local authorities in the area of
transport and urban mobility.
Contact
Julien Allaire, Delegate General of CODATU
Tel.: +336 37 95 83 85
E-mail : [email protected]