On the eve of the G-20 London Summit, UITP calls on Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to integrate the urban mobility dimension into their recovery plans.

“Any stimulus plan that does not integrate urban mobility will fail. Heavy investments in the car sector and on road infrastructure are converging to push us into the next crisis: the climatic one” says Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General.

Public transport belongs to the sustainable and low-carbon economy industries that will support future growth. However, according to the HSBC Global Research report on more than 20 economic recovery plans, within the 430 billion dollars invested in fiscal stimulus to key climate change industries, few have earmarked anything for public transport improvements.

- Every direct job in urban transport creates 2.5 to 4.1 jobs in the economy.

- Transport accounts for 19% of GHG emissions (up to 26% in the USA) and road transport currently accounts for 74% of all these emissions. Only a massive modal shift can bring about short-term results.

- In Europe alone, urban centres generate about 70% of the wealth created. Congestion destroys about 7% of this wealth.

UITP reiterates the message conveyed by UNEP: G-20 has an essential role to assume in the implementation of a genuine Global Green New Deal and public transport is a vital contributor.

‘Building tomorrow today’ is the baseline of the London summit. To materialise this ambition, G-20 must launch forceful policies in order to promote a large-scale modal shift. Today over 50% of the world population are living in urban centres. It is the moment to provide them with the favourable conditions to contribute to the economic recovery.

Notes for Editors

UITP 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 co-operation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,100 members from 90 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information on UITP and public transport, visit www.uitp.org.

UITP’s World Congress and Exhibition will be held in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 June 2009. The theme of the event is ‘Public transport: Making the right mobility choices’. For more information, visit www.uitp.org/vienna2009/.

See the congress programme: www.uitp.org/vienna2009/Congress/programme-en.cfm

See the Expo Forums programme: www.uitp.org/vienna2009/Congress/Expo-Forums-en.cfm

Get a preview of the exhibition: www.uitp.org/vienna2009/Congress/Expo-Forums-en.cfm

Visit the Vienna Congress and Exhibition Media Room: www.uitp.org/vienna2009/news/index.cfm

Press Contact: Aline Talabard| UITP Communications Manager

Direct phone: +32 (0)2 6636672 | Fax: +32 (0)2 6601072 | aline.talabard@uitp.org