International Transport Forum

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The International Transport Forum (ITF; German World Transport Forum ) is an intergovernmental (intergovernmental) organization with 65 member states (as of February 2019) for transport policy. The Paris- based organization is the only global interdisciplinary body with a mandate for all modes of transport.

It is organizationally affiliated with the OECD , but its governance is autonomous. The ITF sees itself as a transport policy think tank and global communications platform for the transport sector . The ITF organizes the annual World Summit of Transport Ministers, which has been taking place in Leipzig since 2008 and has been known as the “Davos of Transport”. As a neutral mediation institution, it wants to promote the dialogue between government representatives and stakeholders from business, research and society. The ITF specifies transparency and public accessibility as guiding values; the motto of the organization is "Global dialogue for better transport" ("Worldwide dialogue for better transport").

Members

Members of the ITF (2019)

Working method

The aim of the International Transport Forum is to promote consensus building and cooperation between business, science, the public and politics in shaping transport policy trends and strategies. The research department (until the end of 2016 as Joint Transport Research Center , JTRC, jointly supported by the OECD and ITF, since then under the aegis of the ITF) provides the scientific basis for this mediation process.

The ITF Secretariat is based in Paris and is responsible for implementing the work plan. It consists of the departments Research and Policy Field Analysis, Statistics and Models, Summits and Institutional Relations, Communication and Administrative Tasks. It currently employs around 60 people (as of June 2017) and is headed by the Secretary General, who is elected by the transport ministers of the member states. On June 1, 2017, they elected the Korean Young Tae Kim to succeed the Portuguese José Manuel Viegas, who had held the office since 2012.

At the beginning of 2017, the ITF forecast in its “Transport Outlook” that the CO 2 emissions of the global transport sector will at best remain the same until 2050. However, if the trend continues unchanged, greenhouse gases from the transport sector would grow by 160%.

construction

The structure of the ITF is based on flexibility, effectiveness and political responsiveness while at the same time adhering to quality and relevance standards. The ITF was created in 2006 as the successor organization to the European Conference of Transport Ministers ( European Transport Ministers' Conference ) founded in 1953. By transforming the ECMT from a primarily European institution into a "global forum", creating opportunities for participation for different stakeholders and opening up to those interested Public the ITF has developed into a communication platform for all aspects of traffic, logistics and mobility.

A Transport Management Board (TMB) made up of representatives from the member states defines the strategic direction of the ITF's work. The forum is chaired by a minister from the member states on a rotating basis. Further members can be admitted by unanimous decision. Accession talks are currently being held with Brazil .

Legally, the ITF is an intergovernmental organization. Similar to the International Energy Agency , the ITF is part of the OECD. Its statutes (especially on decision-making and financial issues) are based on the minutes of the ECMT. The forum is financed by its member states.

There are institutional links with the European Commission , the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The forum also works with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In addition, it maintains a monitoring system for following important developments in international transport. To date, the ITF has published more than 200 technical and strategic-political publications on the subjects of sector analysis, economic research , traffic statistics, traffic law and method manuals.

criticism

On the occasion of the International Transport Forum 2016, the service union ver.di and the nature and environmental protection organizations BUND , NABU and WWF published a joint declaration in which they criticized the development of the size of container ships. You burden "public coffers, environment and social balance". The organizations accused the ITF or its representatives of a unilateral policy in favor of the shipowners, which harms the common good.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Transport: Technology alone is not enough , klimaretter.info , February 5, 2017
  2. Global traffic torpedoes climate targets , Deutsche Welle, February 2, 2017
  3. a b Joint press release from ver.di, BUND, NABU and WWF on the International Transport Forum. Retrieved June 30, 2016 .
  4. The hidden loads of the container giants. WWF Germany, May 19, 2016, accessed June 30, 2016 .