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SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY FOR ALL

SuM4All Members Gather in Leipzig to Chart New Course

Date & Time
May 23rd, 2019
Location

MESSEHAUS, Congress Center, Room M8, Leipzig, Germany 

Event Info

The 7th Consortium Meeting of the Sustainable Mobility for All initiative was held on May 23rd, 2019 during the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. Thirty-seven organizations gathered at this meeting to take stock of SuM4All achievements to date and decide where next to take this partnership. The meeting had three objectives: (i) reflect on the progress with SuM4All so far; (ii) delve into the details of the global roadmap of action (GRA) and its six companion papers; and (iii) discuss new thematic priorities for the initiative.  

The meeting kicked off with opening remarks by co-chairs Mr. Guangzhe Chen (World Bank) and Mr. Yuwei Li (UNECE). Both emphasized the pivotal contributions of the SuM4All partnership to the mobility agenda and stressed the importance continued collaboration under the leadership of SuM4All.

The first session, moderated by Susanna Zammataro (IRF), provided an update on the progress of the upcoming GRA, highlighting the success of both rounds of the engagement process following the receipt of requests/input/comments from more than 50 countries, cities, MDBs, UN agencies, multi-national companies, and global civil society organizations. Notably the engagement process included the participation of representatives from all modes of transport. SuM4All is now wrapping up the engagement process and plans to launch the Action Roadmap in the Fall of 2019.

The second session, moderated by Mr. Jens Hügel (IRU), focused on the content of the GRA through a speed-dating format. Participants had the opportunity to learn from and interact with the leads of the six Working Groups: Joseph Haule (ReCap – Rural Access); Sylvain Haon (UITP – Urban Access); Nhan Tran & Yuwei Li (WHO & UNECE - Safety); Frida Youssef (UNCTAD - Efficiency); Sergio Avelleda & Dario Hidalgo (WRI & Despacio – Green Mobility); and Sheila Watson & Karla Gonzalez Carvajal (FIA Foundation & World Bank - Gender). Claire-Marie Bernard and Nicolas Beaumont (Michelin), who led the consultation with the private sector alongside WBCSD, also noted that the private sector is excited about the GRA and is ready to contribute policy ideas.

The third session, moderated by Haldane Dodd (ATAG), aimed to lay the foundation for potential new thematic areas for the initiative, namely e-mobility, decarbonizing transport, technology, and progress toward achieving the SDGs. The respective discussants—Armin Wagner (GIZ/TUMI), Glenn Pearce-Oroz (SE4ALL), Byeronie Epstein (WBCSD), and Frida Youssef (UNCTAD)—all agreed that SuM4All is well-positioned to lead the conversation about mobility in these four thematic areas. The session closed with a members-only discussion about the three-year work plan where ideas and priorities were solicited.

Nicolas Beaumont (Michelin) provided closing remarks by congratulating the outstanding work done by all members on the GRA and companion papers.

SuM4All would like to thank our co-chairs, session moderators, and discussants for contributing to a successful 7th Consortium Meeting. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our member organizations and numerous observers who participated in this year’s consortium meeting.