Intergovernmental Regional Environmetally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia
The United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) and the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, has been jointly organising the Intergovernmental Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia since 2005. The Regional EST Forum comprises: (1) high-level government representatives (from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Health); and (2) a subsidiary group of experts in various thematic areas related to EST.
The EST Forum is a key regional platform to facilitate policy dialogues, provide a strategy for sharing best practices, policy instruments, tools, technologies among Asian countries. It provide advisory support for and the implementation of national EST strategies and action plans. For years, SLOCAT has been an active player at the regional EST Forum by providing technical input, strategic recommendations and event facilitation.
14th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 18 -20 October 2021 I Aichi, Japan
Next Generation Transport Systems for Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality – for a Safer, Affordable, Accessible and Resilient Asia
The Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan; Asian Development Bank (ADB); United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP); and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals/United Nations Development of Economic and Social Affairs (UNCRD-DSDG/UN DESA) will co-organize the high-level Intergovernmental 14th Regional EST Forum in Asia from 18 to 20 October 2021 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with the theme of “Next Generation Transport Systems for Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality – for a Safer, Affordable, Accessible and Resilient Asia”, and in conjunction with other events such as Japan-ASEAN Smart City Network, HELP, SDG promotional events and technical tours. The main event website can be found here.
- SLOCAT co-organised the EST pre-event “Decarbonising Asia’s Transport Sector – How to Deliver on Proposed Goal 1a of the Aichi 2030 Declaration (12 October 2021, 12:45-15:00 Bangkok time)”. It is organised in cooperation with the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport as part of the NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA), funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety’s International Climate Initiative (IKI)
13th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 10 -11 November 2020 I Online
Changing the course of Asia‘s transport sector through transformational change
The Forum was co-organised by the Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Japan, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. SLOCAT co-sponsored the 13th EST Forum with the Asian Development Bank, Bus World Academy, GIZ, and the UK Department for International Development of the United Kingdom/ Research for Community Access Partnership.
- Co-organised the Pre-event on ‘Tracking progress in Asia’s transport transformation – Opportunities for linking SDG and NDC reporting’ under the NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) and the Low Emissions Development Strategy Global Partnership (LEDS GP) Transport Working Group to explore ideas towards a more integrated and structured reporting mechanism for the transport sector.
Concept for an integrated reporting mechanism for transport, climate change and SDGs: Background Paper prepared for the 13th EST Forum pre-event - Presented regional trends of the impacts of COVID-19 on urban mobility at Policy Dialogue 3.
- Discussed the transformative policies, institutional arrangements, and financing mechanisms needed in EST member countries in Plenary Session 2.
12th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 28 – 31 Oct 2019 I Hanoi, Viet Nam
Achieving Smart and Resilient City through Low Carbon and Intelligent Transport System
The Forum was co-organised by the Viet Nam Ministry of Transport, Viet Nam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Viet Nam Ministry of Construction, Hanoi City People’s Committee, Japan Ministry of the Environment, UN ESCAP, UNCRD Division for Sustainable Development Goals/ United Nations Development of Economic & Social Affairs.
SLOCAT co-sponsored the 12th EST Forum with the Asian Development Bank, Bus World Academy, GIZ, and the UK Department for International Development of the United Kingdom/ Research for Community Access Partnership.
SLOCAT participated in the Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Urban Mobility at the invitation of UNESCAP and promoted the Global Status Report on Transport and Climate Change in a pre-event on unlocking economic benefits of clean transportation. SLOCAT also presented the LEDS Global Partnership and the Action towards Climate-friendly Transport (ACT) Initiative in a plenary session on air quality co-benefits, and contributed to the chair’s summary drafting team.
Programme, background papers and country reports the official website
11th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 2 – 5 Oct 2018 I Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Sustainable Urban Design and Development ~ Role of EST
The Forum was co-organised by the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, the Ministry of Road and Transport Development, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Municipality of Ulaanbaatar of the Government of Mongolia; Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Japan (MOE-Japan); the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP); and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG)/UN DESA.
SLOCAT, under the framework of the Applied Research Programme in High Volume Transport (HVT) by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom (DFID), organised the Workshop on Capacity Building Strategy for the Implementation of Low Carbon High Volume Transport in South Asia on 2 October 2018. The SLOCAT Secretariat team also contributed to the chair’s summary drafting team.
Programme, background papers and country reports the official website
10th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 14 – 16 March 2017 I Vientiane, Lao PDR
2030 Road Map for Sustainable Transport: Aligning with Sustainable Transport Development Goals
The Forum was co-organised by Lao PDR Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Japan Ministry of the Environment, SLOCAT Partnership, UN ESCAP, United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) and UNCRD.
SLOCAT was a key contributor to the Vientiane Declaration on Sustainable Rural Transport towards Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by EST country members at the 10th EST Forum.
A Pre-event on the Contribution of Rural Transport to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to the 10th EST Forum was co-organised by the Lao PDR MPWT, Research for Community Access Partnership (ReCAP), UNCRD, UNESCAP and facilitated by SLOCAT on March 13, 2017. The pre-event has provided an inclusive and interactive platform for policy-makers and relevant stakeholders in the EST region to exchange information and knowledge on the role of rural transport in the realization of the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda. It also raised awareness on national and multilateral levels in Asia about the role of rural transport research in achieving key development goals in general and the ReCAP program, its research priorities and (preliminary) results and outcomes in specific. A number of presentations have also been made to share lessons learned from rural transport development in Africa to stimulate cross-region learning between Africa and Asia.
SLOCAT released a background paper, 2030 Road Map for Sustainable Transport in Asia: Aligning Government Policy with SDGs, to provide recommendations for a consultation process for a successor agreement to the Bangkok 2020 Agreement by EST member countries in 2019/2020.
Programme, background papers and country reports the official website
9th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 17 – 20 Nov 2015 I Kathmandu, Nepal
EST for Resiliency -Building Safe, Smart, Low-carbon and Resilient Cities in Asia
The Forum was co-organised by the Nepal Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Japan Ministry of the Environment, UN ESCAP and UNCRD.
SLOCAT participated and faciliated a number of plenary sessions, including:
- Regional Dialogue on Transport and Climate Change (18 November)
- Plenary session on Safe, Climate Adaptive and Disaster Resilient Transport System for Asia (18 November)
- Plenary session on Major Challenges, Progress and Achievements by Countries on the Implementation of Bangkok 2020 Declaration: Moving from Aichi (2005) to Kathmandu (2015) (19 November)
- Plenary session on Sustainable Rural Transport for Resilient Rural Community, Food Security & Poverty Eradication (20 November)
- Plenary session on Climate Adaptation & Resilience in Transport Sector of Asia (20 November)
- Adoption of the Chair’s Summary
Background paper for the forum released by SLOCAT
Adaptation in the Transport Sector in Asia –Recommendations for COP21
Accelerated Action on Rural Transport in Asia-Pacific Region
2030 Road Map for Sustainable Transport in Asia: Aligning Government Policy with SDGs, to provide recommendations for a consultation process for a successor agreement to the Bangkok 2020 Agreement by EST member countries in 2019/2020.
Programme, background papers and country reports the official website
8th Regional EST Forum in Asia I 19 – 21 Nov 2014 I Colombo, Sri Lanka
Next Generation Solution for Clean Air and Transport – towards Sustainable and Livable Society in Asia
The Forum was co-organised by the Sri Lanka Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, Sri Lanka Ministry of Transport, Japan Ministry of the Environment, UNCRD and Clean Air Asia.
SLOCAT participated and facilitated a number of plenary sessions, including:
- Implementing Bali Vision Three Zeros Towards Achieving a Livable and Sustainable Society in Asia (19 November)
- National and International Effort on Low Carbon Technology Transfer and Infrastructure Development in Transport Sector (20 November)
- Private Sector Financing for Next Generation Transport Infrastructure (20 November)
- Intelligent Freight System (IFS) for Improved Productivity and Energy Security in Asia
Background paper for the forum released by SLOCAT
Programme, background papers and country reports the official website