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A word from the Initiator
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It is quite clear that
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Climate change must be addressed here and now - by me, by you, by everyone. In every city. We cannot just wait for governments to come to an agreement. Acting now is a wiser and more economical strategy than letting global warming continue.
Let’s pay attention to what business leaders say. Bjørn Stigson, President of the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), stated that "a revolution of society on a scale never witnessed in peacetime is needed if climate change is to be tackled successfully". The challenge, Mr Stigson said, is for developed nations to cut carbon emission levels by 60 to 80 per cent from current levels by 2050. (Financial Times, 5 September 2007) "We're going to have to go into some sort of crisis before it's going to be resolved. I don‘t think people have realised the challenge. This is more serious than what people think", Mr. Stigson told the newspaper.
Urban transport is a major source of CO2 emissions, and in many of our urban agglomerations traffic is already in a state of crises.
So, how to go about the necessary revolution?
Here is my proposal:
Let’s instigate an "EcoMobility revolution" in our cities and towns. And while billions are being spent on having engineers make the car less environmentally harmful, let’s be aware: The "zero carbon vehicle" was invented more than 200 years ago and is called bicycle.
Push and pull carts even have a history of thousands of years. Walking was invented when humans began to walk upright - and thus saved 75% energy. With the bicycle, humans even surpassed evolution - moving by bicycle requires less energy input per kilometer than walking!
Coming back to the challenge of climate change: as far as urban transport is concerned, we have got a solution to offer: EcoMobility!
A great partnership has emerged. I look forward to the Global Alliance for EcoMobility unfolding its potential.