Mark Radka, UNEP, noted that current patterns of transport services are inextricably linked to energy demand, greenhouse gas consumption and climate change. Radka said that auto ownership rates are rising dramatically, noting that public transit systems can be 50 times more space efficient than private vehicles. He emphasized the importance of low-cost transit, especially in developing countries, and said that many cities currently face the choice of either developing infrastructure and policies that cater to cars, or opting for more efficient approaches to transport.

Philippe Attey, Chairman of the African Association of Public Transport, discussed the energy effectiveness of urban collective transport in Africa. He noted that many African cities are experiencing pollution and permanent congestion. He then addressed the need for: urban collective transport policies with adequate management and financing instruments; more robust methods to measure, monitor and control pollution in large African cities; and a forum on the sustainable development of urban collective transport in Africa.

Gerd Johnsson-Latham, Swedish Ministry of Sustainable Development, emphasized the need for a coherent approach to sustainable transportation, saying it is vital for sustainable development. In noting the country’s goal of reducing its dependency on fossil fuels by 2020, she said tax reductions, exemptions, and subsidies are the most effective way for this to be achieved. In closing, she addressed the continued need to develop more cost-efficient technologies concurrently with Sweden’s current use of renewable energies, and the importance of considering the social aspects of transportation.

Maria Ljung, Stockholm Public Transport, said that oil dependency and CO2 cause environmental, security and supply problems, noting the financial implications of these. She suggested that in order to reduce transportation’s dependency on fossil fuel, an increase of energy efficiency and use of biofuels is needed. She described Stockholms’s example of ethanol and biogas bus fleets, and highlighted the Bus Buyers Consortium as a way to spur their development.

Heather Allen, UITP, highlighted the Bringing of Quality to Life report and addressed the total external costs of congestion, air pollution and traffic accidents in Europe as costing €560 million. She underscored the importance of taking into account density of network and affordability for developing public transportation, noting that city buses are as much as 50% more energy efficient with an average of 35%.

Laura Williamson, HELIO International, described how her organization helps ensure that energy systems and policies contribute to sustainable and equitable development. She profiled HELIO’s Sustainable Energy Watch report series, carried out by locals from 18 countries worldwide, according to eight social, environmental, economic and technological indicators, emphasizing the need for indicators to be simple and easy to understand.

Williamson expressed alarm that several countries have recently switched from being net exporters of energy to net importers. She further noted that adoption of renewable energy sources has been highly variable, and that the reports have highlighted discrepancies between government commitments and related actions.

Ibrahim Togola, HELIO International, presented on Energy and Development in Africa, emphasizing the lack of access to energy. He said that while oil consumption has increased, per capita electricity consumption has decreased, and further noted that the cost of oil has imposed a financial burden on African countries.

Gunnar Boye Oleson, INFORSE, described the social, environmental and economic imperatives that should guide the sustainable development of energy. He noted that compared to the developed world, developing countries have little to gain through increased energy efficiency, as they consume a relatively small amount to begin with. He said that INFORSE’s vision for the EU includes having 12% of energy derived from renewable sources by 2012. He described what is necessary to meet these ambitious goals, and closed with an invitation to other countries to use this model to pursue sustainable energy.

Participants discussed what the CSD and the UN system in general can realistically contribute to solving the problems identified in the presentations. One participant discussed the merits of the Dutch proposal for countries to voluntarily pledge access to modern energy. Participants also discussed the need to decouple economic growth from energy consumption, and to reconsider the economy as a human construct that is ultimately dependant on the environment. There was consensus that effective citizen involvement is needed to hold governments to their stated commitments, guided by concrete targets and timelines. One participant cautioned that unless a social transition strategy is developed during the move to a renewable energy economy, there could be widespread hardship. Another participant emphasized the need to integrate gender equity into energy transition strategies.