TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATIONOECD International Conference, Vancouver Canada
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION
For many years, Canada has played a leading role in the international sustainable development movement. Today, sustainable strategies are beginning to emerge in individual sectors. As they do, the critical importance of transportation to the economy, to society and to the environment is causing this sector to rise toward the top of the sustainability agenda. Here too, Canada is playing an important role. This paper reviews some of the many initiatives now underway.
The Government of Canada has created a Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development charged with monitoring the progress of federal departments in achieving their own sustainable development strategies. Transport Canada is preparing a National Framework for Sustainable Transportation. Environment Canada's State of the Environment Reports include a review of the transport sector, and media campaigns educate the public regarding the impacts of current auto use. Research by Natural Resources Canada improves understanding of transport's fuel consumption and atmospheric emission patterns.
Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has prepared draft principles for sustainable transportation and is launching a one year National Sustainable Transportation Forum. The Ontario Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has released a comprehensive Sustainable Transportation Strategy for Ontario, which has possible application beyond the province.
Environment Policy and Code of Ethics from Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) will soon be supplemented with a model Code of Practices to assist agencies and corporations in their own transport related environmental stewardship programs. TAC's New Vision for Urban Transportation, which has been strongly endorsed by Canadian municipalities, points the way to more sustainable urban transportation systems in the future. The TAC vision complements and supports a variety of local initiatives.
Reasons for success with the TAC vision approach are reviewed, as are some remaining barriers to be overcome. The paper closes with a strong call for cooperative action by all members of the transportation community, as the best means to achieve sustainable transportation goals.