Innovation for Sustainable Transport

 

International Maritime Organization (IMO)  was present at the UN’s first ever Global Sustainable Transport Conference, held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (26-27 November). 

 

Concluding the two-day conference with the so-called ‘Ashgabat Statement’, participants stressed the need to promote the integration of science, technology and innovation into sustainable transport systems by tapping into technological opportunities in the decades to come, in order to bring about fundamental, transformative changes to transport systems. 

 

This, they said, can be achieved through the use of energy-efficient technology, as well as information and communications technology, as they called for strengthening capacity-building support to developing countries.

 

IMO works with developing countries through its integrated technical cooperation programme to promote sustainable maritime transport. For example, IMO's GloMEEP project is aimed at supporting the uptake and implementation of energy efficiency measures for shipping, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

 

During the conference, IMO’s Jesper Loldrup participated in a panel on “Sustainable transport solutions to the climate crisis”, highlighting IMOs work on energy efficiency including recent decisions made to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.

 

The UN Conference brought together key stakeholders from Governments, the UN system and other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to engage in a dialogue that emphasizes the integrated and cross-cutting nature of sustainable transport and its multiple roles in supporting the achievement of the SDGs. 

 

All modes of transport – road, rail, aviation, ferry and maritime – were addressed.