Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi sign public transport charter at UITP event

Addressing the UITP MENA Assembly today, H.E. Abdulla Rashid Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport said: "The Government of Abu Dhabi and its Department of Transport, recognize the importance of sustainable development for national growth, whereby the strategy of the Department was launched in May last year, takes into account a number of steps towards ensuring that sustainable development is at the heart of everything that we do."

"Sustainable development is key to our future and prosperity and therefore is at the center of the of Government of Abu Dhabi major initiative Plan 2030. Moreover, it is embedded within the Surface Transport Master Plan, the vision for the future of transport in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which will continue to be informed and guided by our commitment to sustainable development." Al Otaiba added.

In addition, Chairman Al Otaiba further remarked that: "as climate change is the greatest threat to sustainable development, we are working through transport regulations to lessen the effects of transport on the environment. Thus, our goal is to implement transport solutions that produce less emissions, and that will eventually move towards cleaner and greener sources of energy."

It is noteworthy that sustainable development revolves around three pillars, namely social, environmental and economic. All three are common factors in both the Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP), and the UITP Charter on Sustainable Development.

The UITP Sustainable Development Charter was launched in 2003 inviting UITP members to make a voluntary commitment to monitoring, measuring and reporting on their own environmental, economic and social performance.