Environment and Transport/EST

Activities

1. Regional EST Forum in Asia

The Regional EST Forum is composed of high-level government representatives (both from the Environment and Transport Ministries) and a Subsidiary Expert Group to share best practices, policy instruments, tools, and technologies in key thematic areas of EST. Forum meetings have been held annually since 2005, and the fifth Forum is planned to be held in India in early 2010.

2. National EST Strategy Formulation

UNCRD has been assisting Asian countries in formulating national EST strategies addressing short-, medium- and long-term targets and measures. An integrated strategy incorporating all the key elements of EST as identified in the Aichi Statement provides the basis for developing comprehensive national EST strategies through a highly participatory and consultative process. UNCRD will continue to assist in the formulation process by conducting the activities listed below during 2009/10.

Phase I: Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam: Finalize national EST strategies
Phase II: The Philippines and Indonesia: Provide technical assistance to complete first and second draft of the national EST strategy for the Philippines; and initiate the process of national EST strategy formulation in Indonesia.

3. In-country EST Training Workshop-cum-Policy Dialogue

In line with the recommendation made in the Aichi Statement, Kyoto Declaration, and Seoul Statement, UNCRD organizes the EST Training Workshop-cum-Policy Dialogue in selected countries to: (a) build the capacity of relevant line ministries/departments/agencies in addressing multisectoral environment and transport issues; (b) mainstream an integrated EST approach in the overall transport decision making, planning and development; (c) identify priorities and come up with strategic recommendations for consideration at the policy level (including those for national EST strategy development); and (d) create momentum for interagency coordination and support towards addressing multisectoral EST issues. UNCRD has already held workshops of this nature in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam in 2006, and in Indonesia and Bangladesh in April 2009. In 2009/10, UNCRD will organize needs-based EST training workshops in selected Asian countries.

4. City EST Programme/Forum

UNCRD will initiate consultations with relevant international partners such as the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), World Health Organization (WHO), among others to develop joint capacity building programmes to empower city authorities in effectively addressing win-win solutions and co-benefits in climate change and the transport sector. UNCRD will also carry out the required processes towards establishing City EST Forums on a pilot basis in two selected cities each in Indonesia and the Philippines.

5. Development of EST Performance Indicators/index (EPI)

In close cooperation with the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD)/UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UNCRD will initiate the development of EST performance indicators/index (EPI) to evaluate the performance of cities or local authorities as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of public transportation systems from the perspectives of socioeconomic (including social equity and gender) and environmental sustainability.

6. Provide input to the CSD process

Transport will be one of the main sectoral priorities for CSD 2010/11. Currently, CSD is the highest policy forum within the UN system on sustainable development. UN member countries are being asked in 2009 to report to the UN on efforts to make transport more sustainable. In 2010, the annual CSD meeting in New York will review the information submitted while the 2011 meeting will be used to arrive at a common policy statement on transport and sustainable development. UNCRD will continue to build the capacity of developing countries in Asia to provide meaningful input to CSD discussions and negotiations.

7. Networking Activities

UNCRD will strengthen networking with relevant regional/international organizations such as ADB, CAI-Asia, GTZ, Sida, gTKP, ITDP, AWGESC, SACEP, World Bank, WHO, and JICA for the implementation of joint activities/projects, including thematic training courses on relevant EST areas, in line with the objectives underlined in the Aichi Statement, Kyoto Declaration, and Seoul Statement.