15 January 2016: An annual international conference, titled ‘Transforming Transportation 2016,’ called for greater knowledge sharing, integrated approaches and innovative approaches to solve the sustainability challenges in cities. Co-hosted by the World Bank and EMBARQ, the urban mobility initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, the conference brought together representatives from a wide array of international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ministries, cities, municipalities, academia and the private sector.

Speaking at the opening plenary, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), highlighted the need for integrated city and transport planning. Pierre Guislain, Senior Director for the Transport and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Global Practice, World Bank, urged progress on implementation and finance mobilization to tackle congestion, pollution and safety.

In the course of the two-day gathering, participants addressed issues including: key drivers for meeting climate goals; ways for national governments to support implementation at the local level; shared and on-demand mobility services; and women’s safety in public transport. They also considered, inter alia: enhancing the role of the private sector in achieving a sustainable future; improving data collection and management for efficient urban mobility; comparing implementation of integrated transport; financing sustainable mobility; designing cities for greater road safety; and developing new initiatives for clean mobility.

The conference took place in Washington, DC, US, from 14-15 January 2016. [Transforming Transportation 2016 Website] [GEF Press Release]