Bangkok Initiative on Environmentally Friendly Urban Transport

1. Definition

In order to provide environmentally friendly urban transport, the Bangkok Initiative will;
(1) Conduct research on environmental impact due to transport in Asian urban areas
(2) Promote motor vehicle technical inspection, regulations and certification systems
(3) Construct and improve urban railways

2. Background

In developing countries, especially in the Asian region, the concentration of population in big cities and car use has developed rapidly in conjunction with rapid economic growth. As a result, congestion of the road traffic systems and environmental aggravation such as air pollution in big cities have become serious problems, and immediate countermeasures are necessary. However, developing countries lack human resources and technologies to implement measures which are efficient and effective. Japan has experience in solving its serious traffic pollution problems, and assistance from Japan to developing countries based on its experience and knowledge is being requested.

3. Details

(1) Research on environmental impact due to transport
Conduct surveys of air quality and vehicle emissions such as CO2 in order to accurately grasp the current environmental situation, and assist developing countries to form environmentally friendly transport policies suited to actual conditions of the place, including through showing positive environmental improvement achieved by implementation of each concrete countermeasures.

(2) Promotion of motor vehicle technical inspection, regulations and certification systems
Invite to Japan technical officials responsible for vehicle certifications and inspections in developing countries to attend training courses for vehicle certification and inspection in order to facilitate the reduction of environmental impact of gas emissions from vehicles.

(3) Construction and improvement of urban railways
Conduct case studies on several urban railway projects in developing countries in order to determine the most suitable urban railway systems etc., and support those projects by making appropriate policy proposals.

4. Partners

Ministry of Communications, Indonesia
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan
Department of Transportation and Communications, Philippines
Ministry of Transport and Communications, Thailand