TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
OECD International Conference, Vancouver Canada


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Session 1A - Opening Ceremony

Abstract of address by W. J. Zuckermann

I propose to base my text on a selection of the awkward (but vital) questions posed by my colleague Eric Britton on the Sustainable Transport Forum that he has created several years ago on the Internet in support of the work of our group whose mission is to ask hard questions about why our transport systems are so entirely unsustainable. In my talk, I shall try to answer his questions as best as I can, hoping to stimulate the participants to do likewise. (Questions and answers much abridged here.)

  1. Is "Sustainable Transportation" a contradiction in terms? Do we even know what it means?
    Answer: Definitions of those terms.

  2. Do we know enough to do something concrete today, or do we need more conferences?
    Answer: Reasons why we can start today.

  3. Can we leave the Answer to the free market and technology?
    Answer: We have no free market; explain why.

  4. Do you think the Answer to these issues is to be found in transport policy?
    Answer: No. that is only one tiny part of a whole organic web which we must put in place.

  5. Are carbon taxes a good idea?
    Answer: Yes, of course, if our Fortune 500 companies will let carbon taxes (only one part of a needed tax shift) happen.

  6. Can the Information Society and Telework make inroads on these problems?
    Answer: Yes, if they can be proved actually to REDUCE physical transport; go into pros and cons here.

  7. Can a transition to sustainable transport be made quickly?
    Answer; yes, in some cases; no in others.

  8. Are these issues only government can deal with?
    Answer: Decidedly no, it needs a coordinated effort from ALL the actors.

  9. What is the role of organizations like OECD and conferences like this?
    Answer To bring awareness to decision-makers by challenging them openly and with expert background.

  10. What exactly is it that YOU intend to do about all this?
    Answer: Be even more careful about ever using unsustainable transport.

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