THE REPUBLIC OF S E R B I A

UN COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RIO +20 AGENDA ITEM: CONTRIBUTION TO THE AGENDA: INSTITUTION-BUILDING

Check against delivery

STATEMENT
by Mr. Dragan Marinkovi, M Sc. Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development, Serbian Railways THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

New York, January, 12th, 2011

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished members of the UNCSD Secretariat, Ladies and Gentlemen

Rails role for sustainable development, decarbonising transport and Green Economy are the vital factors of todays contemporary transport. Therefore we strongly believe in the necessity to promote all means of measures to facilitate the realization of the rail s role. Energy efficiency is the inevitable keystone of sustainability. Having in mind the obvious trend towards high speed railways and overall organization of the transport of goods as well as the other transport elements, thrifting the energy is of the key importance. Therefore, delegates will strive to achieve: 1. Promotion by an integrated approach to policy-making at the national, regional and local levels for transport services and systems to promote sustainable development, including policies and planning for land use, infrastructure, public transport systems and goods delivery networks, with a view to make available safe, affordable and efficient transportation, boost energy efficiency, trim down pollution, congestion and adverse health effects and reduce urban collapse, taking into account national priorities and circumstances. 2. Specifically organize Transport Regional Committees in order to learn and summon local characteristics and common needs in the terms of specific transport systems; particularly promote railway transport system in the domain of overall environmental protection, energy efficiency and sustainable development. For fulfilling this task UIC is seen as the supposedly organization. Its primarily responsibility is expected to be in founding and coordinating the field work of related Regional units. This would include actions at all levels to: a. Implement transport strategies for sustainable development, reflecting specific regional, national and local conditions, to improve the affordability, efficiency and convenience of transportation as well as urban air quality and health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through the development of better vehicle technologies that are more environmentally sound, affordable and socially acceptable; b. Promote investment and partnerships for the development of sustainable, energy efficient multi-modal transportation systems, including public mass transportation systems and better transportation systems in rural areas, with technical and financial assistance for developing countries and countries with economies in transition. c. Work out the efficient algorithms for best conformity of a public-private partnership (PPP) and test it at the regional level.