Skip to main content

Transport is critical for 'green growth'

In a keynote speech at the XXIVth World Road Congress in Mexico yesterday, Carole Coune, secretary general of the International Transport Forum at the OECD, stressesd the role of transport for environmentally responsible development.Coune, who assumed office as the International Transport Forum's secretary general in August, said, "Transport is a critical factor in delivering green growth.
April 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
In a keynote speech at the XXIVth World Road Congress in Mexico yesterday, Carole Coune, secretary general of the 1102 International Transport Forum at the OECD, stressesd the role of transport for environmentally responsible development.Coune, who assumed office as the International Transport Forum's secretary general in August, said, "Transport is a critical factor in delivering green growth. The sector has to innovate to cut its environmental footprint, and new transport industries and transport infrastructure investment will be motors for growth after the crisis.Fast growing economies in Latin America and in Asia will determine in large part how transport's environmental footprint will evolve."Transport infrastructure investments figure large in economic recovery programs because of the number of jobs they create. But understanding which projects are most likely to generate growth in the long term, beyond the construction phase, is critical to making the best use of severely limited public funds," Coune said."It has a lot to do with freeing up constraints in the existing transport system that act as a brake on innovation and business development. It has alot to do with making urban areas more rapidly accessible from major entry points: airports, rail and bus hubs. It is about connecting workers and potential workers to employers," Coune told delegates to the XXIVth World Road Congress. She added that this is something transport Ministers will discuss in depth at the International Transport Forum's annual summit in Leipzig, Germany, in May 2012.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Montreal’s critical list of deteriorating bridges and tunnels has doubled
    September 3, 2012
    The number of Montreal’s bridges and tunnels in a “critical” condition has more than doubled during the past 12 months, says a shocking new report looking at the state of the city’s transport infrastructure. The new report, which came out this month, shows that 27 of the city’s 587 highway structures reached “critical condition” in 2011 compared with only 12 in 2010.
  • Road markings initiative for Mexico
    December 3, 2014
    The increasing need for efficient and durable products providing greater road safety is a concern of many authorities around the world, with Mexico being no exception While the Mexican Government seeks to improve the safety of the country’s roads, many companies and local governments are also taking the initiative to make their mark. Over the past decades, cities around the world have experienced rapid urbanisation. The growth of urban centres like Mexico City, coupled with the expansive use of cars as a
  • Construction trends in North America, looking to the future
    June 10, 2019
    Exciting changes in construction will reward the aware contractor - *Jeff Winke comments Hop in a car and drive anywhere in the US and chances are the drive will be on roads and highways that need patching, resurfacing, or widening, and bridges often show signs of needed maintenance. Sadly, things are in bad shape. On the last two report cards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US infrastructure scored a D+. This year’s report urges the government and private sector to increase spending
  • Interviews round-up
    March 19, 2012
    Investment in infrastructure is a key priority for the US. With a three-part growth strategy, business improving worldwide and improvements in order books, the Terex Group is looking to increase net sales to US$8 billion by 2013. Ron DeFeo, Terex’s chief operating officer, said the company has been seeing increased order and quotation activity across nearly all of its product categories.