Eight major bus manufacturers became signatories to the UITP Sustainable Development Charter, today. It is the first time bus manufacturers take such a commitment and decide to do this as a group to show that their industry support to this programme.

In a high level ceremony, CEO’s and Senior Managers from Daimler Busse/EvoBus, Irisbus Iveco, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania, Solaris Bus & Coach, Temsa Global, VDL Bus & Coach and Volvo Bus Corporation signed up to the Sustainable Development Charter in the presence of Alain Flausch, UITP President and Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, at the end of the energy-related session, entitled “Don’t waste your energy!” at the 59th UITP World Congress in Dubai.

“We welcome this joint effort” said Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, “Walking around the Mobility & City Transport Exhibition you will see all the new technologies being used for buses and joining the Charter shows that their commitment is more than only ‘skin deep’.” 

Hakan Karlsson, CEO and President of the Volvo Bus Corporation and acting chair of ACEA’s Bus Group for General Managers said: “Energy use from buses has decreased by 30% over the last 30 years, emissions have decreased by 90% and the focus nowadays is going from emissions to energy. There are several ways to reduce environmental impact and the Sustainable Development Charter Reporting Framework will allow us to monitor all new technologies and organise experienced feedback for the whole sustainable development sector.”

This first move from bus manufacturers toward the Sustainable Development Charter is only the beginning, as smaller manufacturers are now expected to follow their leadership.

The growing interest for the Charter does not stop here, as the UITP stand welcomed later today five other UITP members signing as Full or Pledge members. Other signature ceremonies took place in the Indian and Turkish regional workshops and the North American lunch, bringing the total to 15 new signatories and 3 Pledge moving to Full signatories.

The UITP Sustainable Development Charter was launched in 2003 at the 55th UITP World Congress in Madrid. From 33 pioneer signatories, this has now grown to more than 150 adherents, including operators, organizing authorities, associations, the service and supply industries from 37 countries world-wide.

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Notes to Editors

UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information, please visit www.uitp.org. For more information about the 59th UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, please visit http://www.uitpdubai2011.org.

For more information about the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA), please visit www.rta.ae.

UITP Press contact: Sarah D'Angelo | Press Junior Manager

Direct phone: +32 (0)2 6636639 | Fax: +32 (0)2 6601072 | sarah.dangelo@uitp.org

Heather Allen, UITP Senior Manager Sustainable Development +32 477 580 655 or during the Dubai World Congress + 971 50 80 14 810