Page 56 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

56 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY PLANS

European cities gain recognition
and fresh support for tackling
urban mobility challenges

By Richard Adams and Adrienne Kotler – ICLEI Europe
The urgent need to
decarbonise road transport What’s more, the negative Landmark document assists cities
and move towards more externalities – and with that the with sustainable mobility planning
sustainable modes has potential for positive knock-on effects That is why the new edition of
– of transport are vast and extend the “Guidelines for Developing and
Implementing a Sustainable Urban
been clear for several years, and the far beyond air quality and emissions Mobility Plan” (SUMP) is of immense
importance. Released in October 2019
evidence supporting this continues to to encompass public health, social at the CIVITAS Forum in Graz (Austria),
they support planners and policy
mount. integration, and much more. makers to create their own SUMPs.

The European Environment Agency’s However, changing transport for the SUMPs contribute to the realisation of
recent analysis of European air quality better is no simple matter – (urban) key European goals, such as reduced
shows that exposure to air pollution mobility systems are becoming air and noise pollution, improved
caused around 400,000 premature increasingly complex. Practitioners and accessibility, increased road safety,
deaths in the European Union (EU) in politicians need support to integrate and enhanced quality of life. In
2016. As the sector with the highest mobility into their visions for dynamic, recent years, they have become an
levels of nitrous oxide emissions, road green and liveable cities, and to manage
transport plays a leading role in the its role in the transition towards a
story behind these harrowing figures. more sustainable future for all.

Siegfried Nagl, Mayor of Graz; Matthew Baldwin, Deputy
Director-General, DG Move; Siegfried Rupprecht, Executive
Director, Rupprecht Consult. ©Stadt Graz/Schiffer

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