Report on Sustainable urban mobility in the Mediterranean (strategy paper)

Transcription

1 Report on Sustainable urban mobility in the Mediterranean (strategy paper) CDR _00_02_TRA_TCD EN

2 - 1 - This paper has been drawn up by Karim Bennour, President of the People's Municipal Assembly of Algiers, for the ARLEM Bureau meeting to be held in Barcelona on 23 May 2013 and the meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Development (SUDEV) to be held in Bethlehem on 15 June 2013.

3 - 2 - Foreword objectives of the report and methodological approach The purpose of the report is fourfold: to identify the fundamental characteristics of mobility in the countries of the Mediterranean, to draw attention to the challenges involved in developing sustainable mobility in the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries in particular, to highlight key aspects of the possible initiatives and, lastly, to issue recommendations to local and regional assemblies, the UfM and the European Union with a view to reversing what seems to be a pronounced emerging tendency to think in terms of non-sustainable forms of mobility. In order to do this, we have chosen to adopt a methodology based on two complementary approaches: - desk analysis: based on existing research and studies conducted on the issue, in particular the ARLEM study on sustainable urban mobility in the Mediterranean (2013). Details of the other bibliographical references on which we will also draw are set out in the appendix; - a questionnaire for ARLEM members: as well as backing up the results obtained during the initial desk analysis phase, the questionnaire is intended to supplement this analysis, both by highlighting specific cases or problems and by drawing attention to the good practices that are to be found dotted across the Mediterranean countries. The questionnaire should also allow us to gather the views of the various stakeholders on the proposals for action and recommendations. For us, the questionnaire, which we also intend to send to ARLEM members, will also serve to make the content of our report more relevant, by encouraging the teamwork and participatory approach which are the hallmarks of our institution. When it is applied, the methodology, as described above, should ultimately allow us to obtain a comprehensive, multi-faceted view of the issue of mobility in the Mediterranean. This overview will then help us to identify the various steps that stakeholders could take to foster and support the development of sustainable mobility, in particular in the countries in the South and East of the Mediterranean. For, whilst it is true that the two shores of the Mediterranean share some common dynamics when it comes to urban mobility, there are nonetheless significant differences. In the North of the Mediterranean, although there is still considerable scope for improvement in the sphere of sustainable urban mobility, the shift is already underway and things are moving in the right direction. In the South and East of the Mediterranean, on the other hand, the situation is delicate in the sense that it is characterised overall by the existence of major problems (as far as sustainable development is concerned) in the areas of mobility and urban transport. Consequently, the future report will focus mainly on mobility in the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean. In the following sections of this strategy paper, we will set out some of the key points that we propose to address in the future report, for discussion and feedback.

4 Mobility in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean: the current state of play In this section of the report, we intend to assess the current situation and identify the key characteristics of mobility in the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. At this level, the aim is to demonstrate the non-sustainable nature of a number of existing mobility practices and policies. Accordingly, in this section we plan to: - assess the importance of mobility and its relationship to economic and social development in the countries under consideration; - analyse the key factors behind the significant increase in urban mobility; - examine how this mobility takes place and what means of transport are used; - highlight the common difficulties and problems encountered by these countries with respect to mobility and transport; - Our premise is that the analysis we plan to conduct in this first section will, in all probability, echo the results of the large body of existing work and studies on urban mobility issues in the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, which point to: - a high level of urbanisation, concentrated along the coastline; urban sprawl and conurbations; - congested transport networks, with associated high economic costs (time lost); - growing urban pollution caused by over-use of fossil fuels, which is having a considerable impact on the environment and leading to considerable negative externalities, particularly in the major cities; - a lack of high-quality public transport (with the sector dominated by small-scale transport) set against the rapid growth of car ownership; - highly centralised administration, problems with governance and financing and, more globally, difficulties at the level of the organisation of the transport market; - difficulties with access to urban collective transport networks, which are not sufficiently extensive and exclude disadvantaged population groups who often live in outlying neighbourhoods, as a result of high fares; - etc. 2. Issues and opportunities: some of the challenges associated with sustainable urban mobility in the Mediterranean After summing up the overall situation in the previous section, this second section will look more closely at the various specific challenges - economic, social and environmental associated with current urban mobility issues. At this level, and in terms of challenges, we will endeavour to demonstrate the importance and necessity of countries in the region developing sustainable forms of mobility, with a view to: - making local and regional economies more efficient (green growth); - combating poverty effectively by encouraging the inclusion of disadvantaged population groups in public transport networks and catering for people with special needs;

5 and, lastly, preserving the environment, whilst at the same time ensuring the mobility necessary for economic and social development, and lowering energy consumption. On the basis of these analyses, it should be possible to identify the major challenges which local and regional authorities will need to address in the immediate future and in the years to come. What makes these challenges particularly complex for local and regional authorities is that developing sustainable urban mobility requires successful coordination of urban planning, housing, travel and transport policy. In terms of future perspectives, efforts will need to be made on several fronts in order to turn the strong emerging tendency towards non-sustainable development around successfully. This will, in particular, involve implementing appropriate strategies and action plans. The third section, as outlined below, will set out guidelines for the measures that could be implemented. 3. Measures that could be implemented to promote sustainable development in the Mediterranean: guidelines and flagship ideas The investigation and analysis we plan to conduct, together with the discussions with ARLEM members on good practice, should result in a proposal setting out measures that could be implemented. However, at this stage of the study, it is already possible to sketch out some of the key aspects of these measures which could, in our view, be structured around the following guidelines and flagship ideas: - managing urbanisation and urban sprawl through, amongst other things, better planning and effective programme implementation; - developing and promoting good quality collective transport and finding the requisite sources of funding for making investments in transport and managing mobility; - developing strategies for rationalising the use of private cars (such as promoting collective transport; information and awareness-raising; urban and fuel tax; promoting natural gas; renewable energies and hybrid solutions; as appropriate in specific cases); - developing innovative approaches for ensuring that funding for collective transport, the running of transport authorities and the necessary subsidies are sustainable in the long term; - training in the areas of human resources and mobility and transport management skills to encourage the modernisation of transport systems whilst promoting sustainable forms of mobility (such as car-sharing, collective taxis, "soft" modes of transport and eco-driving). 4. Conclusions: a number of recommendations Naturally, the report will conclude with a set of recommendations. It is, of course, too early at this stage to say what form these might take. They will emerge as the work advances and depending on the results of the exchanges and discussions that take place. At the end of the process, as viewpoints converge, it should be possible to reach a consensus that includes the whole of ARLEM's membership.

6 - 5 - Appendix 1 Short bibliography - Opinion of the Committee of the Regions: "Action Plan on Urban Mobility" (rapporteur: Albert Bore; CdR 256/2009). 84th plenary session, 14 and 15 April ARLEM: "Sustainable urban mobility in the Mediterranean: Preliminary draft study". March ARLEM: "ARLEM report on urban development in the Mediterranean". 2nd plenary session, Agadir, 29 January The Blue Plan: "A sustainable future for the Mediterranean: The Blue Plan's Environment and Development Outlook" Section on Transport. Regional activity centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Sophia Antipolis, July The Blue Plan : "A sustainable future for the Mediterranean: The Blue Plan's Environment and Development Outlook" Section on Urban areas. Regional activity centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Sophia Antipolis, July Codatu/World Bank: "Urban Transport in the Mediterranean Region: Guidance and Recommendations". Regional Seminar on Urban Transport in the Mediterranean Region - Skhirat, Morocco, January 22-23, Boubakour, Farès : "Les grandes orientations des schémas de transport terrestres au Maghreb : vat-on vers des transports écologiquement viables?" [General guidelines for land transport plans in the Maghreb are we moving towards ecologically viable transport?]. Contribution to "The Blue Plan's Environment and Development Outlook" Regional activity centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Sophia Antipolis, Nice, July Godard, Xavier: "Les obstacles à l application de mesures pour la mobilité urbaine en faveur du développement durable. Synthèse des enseignements des ateliers de Sfax, Batna, Aix-Marseille et Barcelone" [Difficulties for implementing urban transport planning in favour of sustainable development. Synthesis of the results of the workshops held in Sfax, Batna, Aix-Marseille and Barcelona"]. Workshops on the difficulties for implementing urban transport planning in favour of sustainable development, Blue Plan April Houpin, Sylvain : Urban mobility and sustainable development in the Mediterranean: regional diagnostic outlook. Blue Plan Papers 9. Regional activity centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan

7 - 6 - (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Sophia Antipolis. Nice, November CDR _00_02_TRA_TCD