Agreed by the Council of Ministers of Transport at the 2015 Summit of the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany

We, the Ministers responsible for transport in the member countries of the International Transport Forum, have assembled under the Presidency of New Zealand to seek mutual understanding of, and orient our response to, these challenges.

Transport facilitating global trade

We:

u acknowledge the impact of the shifting global economic balance on supply chains and resulting trade flows, in particular, the foreseeable increase in global freight volume that represents an extraordinary challenge for the world’s transport system, and underline the need to adjust transport operations and infrastructure policies to address those challenges;

u promote initiatives that focus on creating efficient and effective supply chains and ensuring seamless, free and more sustainable movement of goods;

u support the preparation of the ‘ITF Transport Outlook’, which provides forward-looking analysis underpinning the policies that enable the growth of trade and tourism;

u aspire to increase the efficiency and sustainability of surface trade in connection with ports, promoting efficient inter-modal connections, improved vehicle load factors and reduced idling times across supply chains.

Transport enabling global tourism

We:

  • agree that high-quality, reliable, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective international transport links are crucial for the development of the tourism industry, and that transport services and infrastructure should be designed to respond to the needs of all travellers;
  • advise all relevant authorities, operators, and transport crews to intensify efforts to ensure transport safety and security;
  • acknowledge the impact of transport and tourism on the environment and encourage the provision and use of active modes and public transport;
  • recommend a continued focus on the tourism perspective in ITF work;
  • support and facilitate, wherever possible, the harnessing of new technology to make more effective use of current transport infrastructure, and recognise the potential benefits of this technology for efficiencies in transport services related to tourism.

Maritime, rail, and aviation transport serving trade and tourism

We:

  • recognise that growth in the maritime industry highlights the need for enhanced cooperation among transport stakeholders in order to promote efficient, reliable maritime trade and travel, protect the environment, and improve maritime safety and security through continued collaboration with the International Maritime Organization;
  • affirm the important role that aviation plays in both global tourism and international trade, and encourage the realisation of its full potential within a transparent marketplace and with a fair and equal opportunity to compete;
  • recognise that planning for the growth of aviation means there should be measures to mitigate its impact on the environment, improve safety, and help achieve more sustainable tourism and trade; in this regard;
  • support the comprehensive approach to sustainable aviation at the International Civil Aviation Organization;
  • recognise the potential of rail as a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally-friendly mode of transport for trade and tourism;
  • underline that effective control systems that safeguard against the spread of disease and pests must be a priority for governments and an area of international cooperation.

New technologies and digitalisation: enabling innovation in mobility services

We:

  • welcome the benefits to transport brought by the advances of new technologies and digitalisation, in terms of enhancing the capacity, safety and efficiency of transport infrastructure, and providing better transport services for travellers, traders and tourists;
  • recognise the potential of new technologies, digitalisation, and the sharing economy to provide new and flexible opportunities for transport, reduce environmental impacts and congestion, whilst optimising resources and improving user friendliness;
  • acknowledge, in this context, that regulatory frameworks may need to be adjusted to accommodate this new economic dynamic, taking account of the need to promote safety, safeguard health and protect the environment.

Improving governance of transport, trade and tourism

We:

  • recognise that better cooperation of transport, trade and tourism policies can play a key role in achieving resilient and sustainable regional development;
  • encourage enhanced coordination of transport, trade and tourism policies across ministries and among levels of authority, in order to better promote economic growth through trade and tourism.

Towards COP21: pursuing low-carbon transport

We recognise that the new international climate agreement, which is to be forged and agreed by COP21, should encourage mainstreaming of low carbon transport in global policies on climate change and sustainable development.

 

Original source: International Tranport Forum