Partners signing on to date:
Clean Air Initiative: Asian Cities
GTZ Sustainable Urban Transport
Institute for Transportation & Development Policy
I Walk to School
Journal of World Transport
Leber Planificación
Sierra Club (Ontario)
Sustran LAC
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
World CarFree Days
| Working partnerships, ad hoc collaboration, et al | |
With the main defining components of this partnership project now pretty much in place, we are as of the formal program launch on 1 September entering the next organizational phase: wherein we are starting to take contact with a range of leading of groups and programs - NGOs, environmental, climate, transport, sustainable development and various city groups of different levels-- whose overall sustainability goals and work are closely associated with the underlying objectives of New Moblity Agenda, and who are well placed to put these ideas and tools to work in their domains of specialization.
The driving idea behind these flexible alliances is to create a small number of informal series of efficient working and information links with a selection of these groups around the world, who find it potentially useful to consider some form of cooperation with this more focused, short term approach, network and toolset as a practical extension of their own activities and concerns.
If you look through the following list (each entry is clickable and will take you in turn to the web site of that program), you will immediately see that almost all of these groups have objectives, time horizons, institutional bases, resources and levels of support which are far broader than that those being specifically targeted in our very focused collaborative program. Think of all the things these groups are doing and the tools and means at their disposal as a very large quiver - to which one of more projects spun off from the Briefs can possibly offer one more arrow. That is the spirit of the cooperative enterprise we propose here.
Our activities and competences here in the New Mobility Agenda and specifically the Briefs are for the most part quite different from those of our more established working partners, who in all case have much broader ranges of competences, challenges and interests, with in just about all cases continuing long term involvements with the issues (sometimes stretching out decades and more). What we bring to the table is by contrast a very focused, tool-based, short-term program with a single focus: very sharp CO2 and traffic reductions (and all that goes with it) within a target period of two years or less. And that's it!
The fox knows many things; the hedgehog knows one big thing.
Our activities and competences here at the Agenda are very different from those of most of our more established working partners, who in all case have much broader ranges of competences, challenges and interests, with in all cases continuing long term involvements with the issues. What we bring to the table is by contrast a very specific short term program with a single focus: very sharp CO2 and traffic reductions within a target period of two years or less. And that's it!
As you will see if you click to World Resources link you will see more than one hundred groups and programs thus far identified as working in this or at least related areas world wide: each in their own way, in their chosen own target area, with their own time focus, with their own tools and goals. And, if they are lucky, with resources to do the job. In which case it's a fair question to ask: why should we as an informal world citizen consortium with no assigned institutional mandate dare to think about adding with our own efforts to all that? Might it not be preferable for us just to get out of the way let all these other people simply get on with the business at hand? Hmm.
Certainly no one thing is unique about the Kyoto World Cities Challenge, other perhaps than the fact that like the Greek poet Archilochus's hedgehog we know only one thing: the need for dramatic, effective, short-term, no-excuses action in our chosen target area of transport and sustainability in cities. Against this backdrop here are the defining factors that in our view combine to make Kyoto Cities a potential winner, certainly different from the rest, and quite possibly a good partner for you and your colleagues.
The Briefs is one program that cities can, if they wish, start to engage immediately. It is certainly not the only thing that they or the rest of the world should be doing to confront the challenges of environment and the costly dysfunctional transport arrangements that hinder almost all of them in their life quality and economic viability. It may not even be the best one. But to us it looks like one fine place to start. Today! (Or should we keep on waiting and hope for the best?)
Here you have a rather good first listing of a selection of the international groups and broader environmental, climate, cities, and related programs with whom we are initiating contact to discuss ways in which our capabilities and special competences might eventually be of use to their efforts. As well as to discuss eventual joint projects or other forms of collaboration. (And if you spot any programs or groups working in these areas to who we may be able to be of use, including your own, please do not hesitate to get in touch. For our part we can achieve nothing without viable working partnerships.)
Conspicuously missing from the above list are one group of potential partners who are likely to be most important to the long run success of all that we are trying to achieve here: programs and groups focusing on the environmental, transport, life quality and related problems of their city or surrounding region. On the one hand there are far too many of these to even try to start listing here. On the other, these are contacts, conversations and eventual associations that will hopefully grow out of the information program, first rounds of contacts, references and media coverage that are being set off by this project.
How best to move ahead in each of these cases depends on a great many things, but perhaps one not so bad way to get started with defining areas of mutual interest and eventual collaboration might be quiet simply to open the discussions with the idea of possible subscription to the Briefs - though any such exchanges to be useful will need to take place only once we have a good understanding of the mandate concerns, goals and modus operandi of the potential partner. One-way flows of information will simply not do the trick.
So and in light of this, rather than try to limit these first exchanges to a one-sided marketing pitch on our part and then a simple yes or no decision by the other group, it will be far more creative if we consider the Briefs and the program and resources behind it as a good way to start plowing the field of creative interaction - which at the end of the day might well take some other form than a simple subscription. Perhaps the best next step might upon reflection turn out to be a visit (one way or another, a brainstorming session), a group video or voice conference with a specific agenda, a process of document review and commentary from here on an existing or planned project in the cooker there, a very specific joint project, . . .
It would be a bit constraining and counter-productive to narrow this list of options too quickly or even to try to complete it as started here. The important thing would be to start talking and leave the maximum of options open in these first stages. Our combined intelligence, energy, integrity, and commitment should see to the rest.
Partners & Associates (1 September: Listing just getting underway)
CAI-Asia promotes and demonstrates innovative ways to improve the air quality of Asian cities through partnerships and sharing experiences. CAI-Asia was established in 2001 by Asian Development Bank, World Bank, USAID/US-Asia Environmental Partnership, Asian cities, national governments agencies, and organizations responsible for air quality management. As part of CAI-Asia's Strategy (2005-2007), it will increasingly promote sustainable urban transport to complement end-of-pipe solutions to manage air pollution.
* * * Goals: Regional coordination and cooperation in Asia on AQM firmly established; Asian countries and cities ability to manage air quality is improved; Air quality in major Asian cities is improved
SUTP is a partnership between the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) which aims to help developing cities achieve their sustainable transport goals, through the dissemination of information about international experience and targeted work with particular cities. Their main products are the Sourcebook on Sustainable Urban Transport for Policy Makers and its training courses, as well as training courses and workshops on the topic of sustainable transport. Print and electronic resources are available from www.sutp.org .
* * * We hope the project can contribute as much as possible to develop commitment from different cities to develop a 20/20 initiative (or 10/10, or the one they prefer).
Established in 1985 to promote environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide. ITDP was organized by leading advocates for sustainable transport in the US who realized that the US was exporting its model of automobile dependence to developing countries. ITDP chose to focus on counteracting this development by helping make transportation systems more environmentally sustainable and equitable. (Very important source of information and international collaboration.)
* * * ITDP is collaborating directly with municipalities in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe to improve mobility and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Movement promotes and supports sustained walking to and from school. The various annual I Walk events (Days, Weeks) give children, parents, school teachers, and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate and learn the many benefits of walking. In 2004, approximately 3 million walkers from 29 countries walked to school together for various reasons - all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk. For many this is their first small step toward sustainable transport, a softer city, and a safer and fuller trip to school each day.
* * * The I Walk partners are collaborating with Kyoto Cities by informing their international networks and inviting them to consider working linkages.
Quarterly provides a high quality medium for original and creative work in world transport since 1995. Commitment to sustainable transport which embraces urgent need to cut global emissions of CO2, to reduce the amount of new infrastructure of all kinds-- and to highlight the importance of future generations, the poor, those who live in degraded environments, and those deprived of human rights by planning systems that put a higher importance on economic objectives than on the environment and social justice.
* * In 2006 WTPP will prepare a special Kyoto Cities issue, reporting plans, progress and lessons learned.
Leber, a private technical consulting firm offering transportation planning and traffic engineering services in the Basque Country of Spain since 1988, has been among the most active and successful proponents and contributors to advance the move towards a more sustainable transportation system in the region
by combining accessibility and urban environment improvements
* * * Leber is taking the lead to create a first series of public conversations introducing the 20/20 concept in the three main cities of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz), with a view to encouraging initial studies of how best to turn these concepts into tangible on-street in-lung realities.
Grass-roots volunteer-driven organization, with most of our key work accomplished by member-volunteers. Mission is to protect and restore the health of the natural environment, including human communities in Ontario by empowering the membership and citizenry through education, advocacy, action and outdoor adventures.
* * * Sierra Ontario is working with Kyoto Cities to implement a 20/20 or similar project in the Ontario area.
Sharing best practices and lessons learned about transportation issues and related topics that can contribute to a more sustainable transport in the continent. Based on an effort of various Latin American civil society organizations and individuals who are looking forward to solving the ever-growing problem of unsustainable transport and its adverse effects (traffic congestion, pollution, and environmental and health problems, traffic accidents and related economic deficits.
* * * Cooperating with Kyoto Cities to initiate dialogues with cities through groups in Latin America to the end of laying the base for 20/20 and related short term high impact remedial projects.
Independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative and practical solutions to transportation problems. Provide a variety of resources free via website to help improve transportation planning and policy analysis.
* * * Their
TDM Encyclopedia is integrated into this site, offering a comprehensive source of information about innovative management solutions to transportation problems, plus general information on TDM planning and evaluation techniques.
NGO created in 1994 under The Commons as a shared central repository of international information, experience and counsel for people and groups who feel that the idea of organizing a civic day without cars might be not only a pleasant event in itself, but also an instructive one at a time when many places are looking for ways out of the cities/cars impasse.
* * * Starting in April 2005, proposing to its 500 members world wide that events this year might well include a Kyoto Cities component.
Our contribution - and how we fit in
Outstanding programs, groups to contact for collaboration & exchange
(Peru)
Specific city programs
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Last updated on 2 September 2007