Steering the way to greener road infrastructure

While international diplomatic negotiations on how to tackle climate change are faltering, the International Road Federation (IRF) is taking action and leading the way to meet calls for greener transport systems

The 2462 IRF Policy Statement on the Environment was simultaneously launched on 24 January in Geneva (Switzerland), Washington DC (USA), New Delhi (India), Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It places in perspective the crucial contribution that may be made by safe and sustainable road infrastructure in the context of international efforts to attain key global development objectives.

Achieving sound environmental and sustainability outcomes has long been an integral part of IRF members' policy and practice. The new Policy Statement reinforces their resolve to be at the vanguard of efforts to further improve the environmental performance of the road sector.

Speaking in Washington DC, Sibylle Rupprecht, the Director General of 1201 IRF Geneva, highlighted that: "Faced with the new challenges of our times, roads must be developed in such a way that they become the drivers not only of continued economic progress but also the environmental and social dimensions that are the underpinnings of truly sustainable development." The Policy Statement 'walks the talk' by committing to a comprehensive list of political, regulatory and fiscal recommendations. Rather than promoting an ideological approach to environmental mitigation regardless of real costs and outcomes, the Policy Statement stresses the importance of viable, cost-efficient solutions with the potential to bring about tangible improvements in environmental performance.

The Policy Statement is particularly timely in the light of growing recognition that economic development and transport are inextricably linked.

"In this respect roads may be viewed as the missing link in global development efforts. Indeed, it is being increasingly acknowledged that, without roads, and the access they bring to vital trade and services, the UN Millennium Goals simply cannot be attained," underscores Kiran Kapila, Chairman of IRF Geneva.

"Over the next decade, our sector has a crucial role to play at the forefront of efforts to ensure that industry responds responsibly and proactively to the new environmental and social challenges of our times."