GC24 Parallel / Side Events Reporting Format

GC24 Parallel / Side Events Reporting Format 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Title of the Event: Contribution of Sustainable Transport to the Post 2015 Development Agenda Date: 18 April 2013 Time: 13.30 – 14.30 Venue: Conference Room 14 Name of the Organizing Branch/Unit: Urban Basic Services Name, Country and Category of Partners: SloCat, UNDESA Speakers/presenters details (where relevant): o Mr. Cornie Huizenga (Dutch) – SloCat Partnership o Mr. Roelof Wittink (Dutch) – The Dutch Cycling Embassy o Mr. Rob Jong (Dutch) - UNEP

8. Organization: Summary Report (not more than 300 words in English) including: • Background of the event (indicate GC/UN GA resolutions, Work programme and Budget and other MoUs as well as achievements since last GC where applicable) As follow-up to Rio+20 the Open Working Group was set up for the purpose of identifying a set of Sustainable Development Goals to supersede or complement the Millennium Development Goals, which come to term in 2015. Consultations have been taking place on a variety of themes from the Rio+20 outcome. At this stage, it is important to consider how sustainable transport fits in with possible Sustainable Development Goals as well as the wider post-2015 Development Agenda, which is being elaborated by the UN-Secretary General, aided by the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the post-2015 Development Agenda. This side event was undertaken as part of a wider set of consultations aimed at developing a common understanding of the contribution to sustainable development. The purpose of this event was to discuss with stakeholders attending the Governing Council meeting the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) work-program under its proposed ‘Third Development Plan period’ (DP3 2014-2018) currently under preparation. Urban mobility will become a key focus area for SSATP under DP3, with a substantially enhanced profile under SSATP's work. Thus, for the next program period, SSATP considers UN-Habitat to be a key partner. This side event was designed to be used as a way to both introduce the broad outlines of the program to UNHabitat stakeholders from Africa, as well as solicit guidance and opinion on specific elements of the urban transport work-programme.

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Discussion including Key messages covering the following areas (as relevant) o

An introduction by the Chair defines the context for discussion being one of sustainable transport goals at a global level while providing a background of SLoCat and the objectives of the partnership in promoting sustainable low carbon transport.

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A video was run showing discussion highlights from a United Nations Forum from January 2013, featuring Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogota debating equitable use of road space and prioritization of non-motorized transport (NMT) - emphasizing the social and economic benefits of NMT as well as the environmental.

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A presentation by the Chair comprehensively outlined existing globally relevant goals for 2015 and beyond, indicating both where they relate to transport and where they do not. Opportunities and gaps are identified with the subsequent discussion raising key questions of how to heighten the position of sustainable transport in post 2015 development agendas.

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Amongst the various challenges discussed; issues of balancing sustainable mobility agendas with those of promoting economic growth in developing cities, maintaining ‘people centered’ solutions, civil society empowerment and applying practical targets without solid informative data received much attention.

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UN-Habitat discussed GC24 resolution to broaden the capacities of the Urban Basic Services Branch with a view to facilitating increased engagement in the area of Urban Mobility.