Topic: latin america

RELEASE: 14 Latin American and Caribbean Countries Adopt an Ambitious Plan of Action to Improve Access Rights in the Region

Lauren Zelin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:17:15 -0400

Fourteen Latin American and Caribbean countries adopted an ambitious Plan of Action to improve access rights in the region, including access to information, public participation, and access to justice. The plan, which was approved at a meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, on April 16-17, 2013, seeks to implement the Latin American and Caribbean Declaration on Principle 10 that was signed at the Rio +20 Conference in June 2012, under which countries agreed to work towards a regional instrument to improve access rights.

The meeting began with Colombia and Honduras signing on to the LAC Declaration, a major accomplishment for all parties. The 14 countries that have now signed on include: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

“The new Plan of Action shows political will to transform environmental justice and transparency in the region,” said Carole Excell, Senior Associate at the World Resources Institute and The Access Initiative. “It sets the pace and the agenda to tackle the challenges of negotiating a regional instrument to ensure access rights across Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Under the new 2013-2014 Plan of Action, the LAC countries have committed to:

Promote the Principle 10 Declaration and incorporate new signatories into the process;
Strengthen and highlight the progress made on rights of access to information, participation, and justice;
Promote active participation of civil society at the national level; and
Develop working groups to deliberate capacity-building and cooperation efforts, and determine the nature and scope of the regional instrument.

Ambassador Jose Balmaceda of Chile noted that the Plan of Action “is a strong political signal to the international community that we are responding in a responsible way to this commitment [to Principle 10] … It is the first time that government representatives from 14 countries and civil society sat down to debate – with transparency and trust – relevant issues for the future of the region. This is a testament to maturity in the region. We have been able to reach consensus on the Plan of Action that will allow us to move ahead on national processes and regional efforts. I am sure that this result will motivate other nations in the region to join the process.”

The Plan of Action includes a number of innovative provisions, including procedures for public participation in the regional process and its working groups. It will create opportunities for close South-to-South cooperation on rights to promote transparency, public participation, and access to justice, as well as a focus on increased support for effective implementation at the national level.

“We hope at the end of 2014 we can count on the development of an instrument on Principle 10 that establishes concrete actions to guarantee effective and informed participation to all citizens and communities of our region,” said Daniel Barragan, Ecuadorian Center for Environmental Law (Centro Ecuatoriane de Derecho Ambinental Ambiental), an environmental law NGO. “Soon we can have a voice and be a part of the decision making on the environment and natural resources.”

In addition to adopting the Plan of Action, members elected co-chairs to run the working groups. Costa Rica and Brazil were mandated to design the regional instrument on Principle 10 and Jamaica and Columbia were given the role to facilitate work on cooperation and capacity building.

RELEASE: Governments and Leaders Call for Strengthening Access to Transparency and Public Participation at Rio+20

James Anderson — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:51:06 -0400

More than 300 representatives from government, multilateral institutions, and civil society came together today to push for more action and commitments to support stronger governance around environmental issues.

Access to information, public participation and access to justice are core values that were embedded in the UN environmental process going back to the original Rio “Earth Summit” in 1992. These announcements show important progress toward implementing and strengthening these values at the international, national, and regional level.

Jose Luis Balmaceda, Chilean ambassador to the United Nations, attended the event, where he discussed efforts by a group of Latin American governments to strengthen their commitment to access rights in the region.

Ambassador Balmaceda said that Chile would guarantee Principle 10 and honor the original Rio Declaration. He noted that several governments are working together in Rio to explore the option of a regional approach on Principle 10. Additionally, he said that the negotiators have been working to strengthen this principle at different levels in the final Rio+20 outcome document.

“It is a fact that at the global and regional levels there is a growing recognition of the value of Principle 10, which demands to be translated into effective and concrete actions,” Ambassador Balmaceda said. “Chile is calling to reaffirm the need to achieve the commitments for the full implementation of the rights to access to information, participation, and justice.”

The call for greater access to information and justice was seconded by senior representatives from two UN agencies: Alicia Bercena, Executive Director of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC); and Sven Alkalaj, Executive Director, the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

In a statement Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations said, “My organization is committed to further advancing the application of Principle 10.” UNEP aims to improve Principle 10 “by enhancing opportunities for public participation and access to information, independent from the outcomes of Rio + 20.”

The EU has shown global leadership in embracing environmental protection and governance protection, through the Aarhus Convention, which is the largest regional effort to date to ensure people have the right to access to information, participation, and justice.

Jonas Ebbesson, Chair of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee said, “The Aarhus Convention shows that highly diverse states can agree on minimum requirements for public participation around environmental matters and they can trust an independent review mechanism in which civil society is a key actor.”

UNECE expressed its willingness to support efforts in the Latin American and Caribbean region to develop a convention on Principle 10 and to share experiences.

The announcement was made at a side event at Rio+20, “Choosing our Future: Open and Participatory Sustainable Development Governance,” organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, Fundação Getulio Vargas Rio Program on Law and Environment, the World Resources Institute, and the Access Initiative.

“In the context of the Rio Summit, where most countries have been reticent to strengthen international norms and legal frameworks, today’s announcements present an alternate and more positive approach. This demonstrates modest, but important progress toward greater governance among a number of democracies,” said Lalanath de Silva, director of the Access Initiative, an international network of non-governmental organizations that are working to advance rights and governance issues.

In addition to these announcements, a number of other governments made announcements around voluntary commitments with regard to open government and sustainability, including representatives from Mexico City and the Irish Delegation.

Correction: A previous version of the press release attributed a statement to Amina Mohammed, Deputy Director of UNEP. The correct attribution is Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

-ENDS-

If you would like more information about the event and announcements, please contact Michael Oko; moko@wri.org; +55 (0) 21 8351 1349.

Parceria viabiliza inclusão de serviços ecossistêmicos nos planos de negócios das empresas

James Anderson — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:27:43 -0400

Ver texto em Português OR Read text in English here

Um grupo de empresas líderes brasileiras deu início hoje a uma parceria para incorporar serviços ecossistêmicos em suas estratégias de negócios. A Parceria Empresarial pelos Serviços Ecossistêmicos (PESE) representa um grande esforço para incluir a biodiversidade e os serviços ecossistêmicos na estratégia de negócios das empresas e melhorar o desempenho corporativo no Brasil, país sede da Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Rio+20), no próximo mês.

A ideia é desenvolver estratégias que aliem o desempenho empresarial à gestão sustentável dos ecossistemas. Empresas líderes, como Anglo American, Grupo André Maggi, PepsiCo, Vale, Votorantim e Wal-Mart, estão entre as primeiras companhias participantes desta iniciativa. A parceria é coordenada pelo Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CEBDS), Centro de Estudos em Sustentabilidade da Fundação Getúlio Vargas (GVces) e World Resources Institute (WRI), com apoio da Agência dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (USAID).

“A indústria depende dos serviços ecossistêmicos, como produção de alimentos, água doce e limpa, um clima estável, e proteção contra riscos naturais como enchentes, entre outros benefícios,” explicou Craig Hanson, diretor do Programa de Pessoas e Ecossistemas do WRI. “A PESE irá capacitar as companhias brasileiras a gerenciar proativamente riscos e oportunidades nos negócios, decorrentes de suas dependências e impactos sobre os serviços ecossistêmicos.”

A parceria irá impulsionar novas soluções de negócios em meio à larga degradação dos ecossistemas através da aplicação local da Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR), ou Revisão Corporativa dos Serviços Ecossistêmicos, metodologia líder de avaliação de serviços ecossistêmicos, desenvolvida pelo WRI, em cooperação com o World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) e o Meridian Institute. Aplicando a ESR, cada empresa parceira da PESE vai desenvolver estratégias para melhor competir e ter sucesso em um mundo que cada vez mais esbarra nos limites naturais dos ecossistemas.

“As companhias que já utilizam a ESR têm sido capazes de descobrir novas estratégias rentáveis enquanto protegem e restauram os ecossistemas. Nosso objetivo é replicar esse sucesso no Brasil,” disse Marina Grossi, presidente do CEBDS (Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável).

Um exemplo de uma companhia que registrou resultados positivos a partir do gerenciamento consciente dos escossistemas em que opera é a Mondi, maior companhia europeia de papel e celulose. A Mondi conduziu a ESR em três plantações de papel na África do Sul, em 2008. A ESR ressaltou estratégias que a companhia poderia implementar para aumentar o acesso à água doce, melhorando as bacias hidrográficas regionais, estreitando relações com a comunidade local e reduzindo custos operacionais.

Aproximadamente 300 empresas no mundo já implementaram a ESR, desde 2008. Conforme essa metodologia ganha força no Brasil, WRI, CEBDS e GVces promoverão assistência técnica e consultoria às empresas parceiras, com o objetivo de assegurar a qualidade e eficiência na aplicação da ESR.

Os parceiros também têm como objetivo criar uma rede de empresas ativas na gestão de serviços ecossistêmicos no Brasil, para comunicar resultados, contribuir com estudos de casos e intensificar as estratégias de sucesso. “Assim como a chegada do GHG Protocol há cinco anos, o lançamento da PESE hoje representa um passo adicional na gestão de serviços ecossistêmicos no ambiente empresarial brasileiro” explicou Mario Monzoni, coordenador do GVces.

O evento de lançamento da PESE aconteceu no dia 10 de maio de 2012, das 17h às 18h, no Jardim Botânico no Rio de Janeiro – RJ.

Para saber mais sobre a PESE, acesse o site http://insights.wri.org/pese

A realização da PESE é possibilitada pelo apoio generoso do povo norte-americano, por meio da Agência dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (USAID). Seu conteúdo é de responsabilidade do WRI, GVces e CEBDS, e não reflete necessariamente a posição da USAID ou do Governo dos Estados Unidos.

Contact (in English)
World Resources Institute
James Anderson; Janderson@wri.org; +1 (202) 729 7600

Contato (em português)
GWA Comunicação Integrada
Kelly Souza; kelly.souza@gwacom.com; (11) 6620-2234

Contato (CEBDS)
In Press Porter Novelli
Tatiana Wolff; tatiana.wolff@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8095
Suzana Ribeiro; suzana.ribeiro@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8117

Corporate Leaders and NGOs Form New Partnership to Protect Ecosystems in Brazil

James Anderson — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:47:01 -0400

Read in English below OR Ver texto em Português

A group of leading companies and non-governmental organizations have embarked on a new partnership in Brazil today to incorporate ecosystem services into business strategies. The Parceria Empresarial pelos Serviços Ecossistêmicos (PESE), or Brazilian Business and Ecosystem Services Partnership, represents a major effort to demonstrate how biodiversity and ecosystem services can enhance corporate performance in Brazil, home of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) next month.

The goal is to develop strategies that align business performance to the sustainable management of ecosystems. Leading companies, such as Anglo American, Grupo André Maggi, PepsiCo, Vale, Votorantim and Wal-Mart, are among the first companies participating in this initiative. The partnership was organized by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), the Center for Sustainability Studies at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (GVces), and the World Resources Institute, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Industry relies on ecosystem services, such as food production, clean water, a stable climate, protection from natural hazards, and more,” explained Craig Hanson, Director of the People and Ecosystems Program at WRI. “PESE will empower Brazilian companies to manage business risks and opportunities arising from their dependence and impacts on ecosystem services.”

The partnership will drive new business solutions to ecosystem degradation largely through local application of the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR), the leading assessment methodology developed by WRI in cooperation with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Meridian Institute. By applying the ESR, corporate partners will develop strategies to better compete and succeed in a world that is pushing against natural limits.

“Using the ESR, companies have been able to uncover new profitable strategies while protecting and restoring ecosystems. Our goal is to replicate these successes in Brazil,” said Marina Grossi, President of CEBDS.

One example of a company that has already experienced positive results from managing the ecosystems in which it operates is Mondi, Europe’s largest paper and pulp company. In 2008, Mondi conducted an ESR in three of its paper plantations in South Africa. The ESR highlighted strategies the company could implement to increase access to freshwater while improving regional watershed health, strengthening its relationship with local communities, and reducing operational costs.

An estimated 300 companies have already implemented the ESR worldwide since 2008. As this method gains traction in Brazil, WRI, CEBDS, and GVces will provide technical assistance and advice to corporate partners in order to enhance the quality and efficiency of applying the ESR.

The partners also aim to create a network of companies active in the management of ecosystem services in Brazil, in order to communicate results, contribute new case studies, and scale up successful strategies.

“As with the arrival of the GHG Protocol five years ago, the launch of PESE today represents another step towards sustainability for Brazilian business,” explained Mario Monzoni GVces coordinator.

Editor’s Note:

The PESE launch event will take place on May 10, 2012, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at the Botanical Garden in Rio de Janeiro.

For more information, visit: http://insights.wri.org/pese

PESE is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of WRI, GVces, and CEBDS and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Contact (in English)
World Resources Institute James Anderson; Janderson@wri.org; +1 (202) 729 7600

Contato (em português)
GWA Comunicação Integrada Kelly Souza; kelly.souza@gwacom.com; (11) 6620-2234

Contato (CEBDS)
In Press Porter Novelli
Tatiana Wolff; tatiana.wolff@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8095
Suzana Ribeiro; suzana.ribeiro@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8117

RELEASE: New Global Database on Bus Rapid Transit Launched

Lauren Zelin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:57:59 -0400

BRTdata.org provides most robust data to improve mobility and reduce carbon emissions from transit

Three global organizations have teamed up to launch the most comprehensive, public database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems around the world. The new site, http://BRTdata.org, was created by EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport, and the Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE), in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

BRT is one of the fastest growing public transport systems. Approximately 134 cities worldwide— from Bogota to Beijing— have implemented BRT systems or priority bus corridors, serving more than 22 million passenger trips daily.

BRT is a mode of public transport that flexibly combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways and intelligent transportation system elements into an integrated system.

“The new website provides reliable and up-to-date data to help researchers, transit agencies, city officials, and NGOs understand and make better decisions to improve BRT and bus corridors in their cities,” said Dario Hidalgo, Director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ. “This is the first time that all of this publicly available data has been compiled in one place, but there is still more information available. We invite transit agencies and researchers to help us improve the knowledge base by sharing additional data to fill in the gaps.”

The new website allows users to compare BRT systems and bus corridors in all 134 cities in 36 countries. The database includes 95 different indicators on system operations, design and cost, including metrics like the number of passengers per day, commercial speed, and the length of corridors.

There is growing interest and demand for BRT as cities seek low-cost, sustainable urban transportation solutions. As the number of BRT systems increases, it is important to have current, accurate, and complete information about existing and planned systems.

The development of an online database was a joint data-sharing effort. EMBARQ and ALC-BRT CoE collected data mostly from Latin America, and the IEA contributed data from other regions.

“Previously, there was no single point of publicly accessible information about the worldwide BRT industry, and it was especially difficult to get an assessment of the industry’s size and how it was changing over time,” ALC-BRT CoE Director Juan Carlos Munoz said. “We finally have the right tools to set standards for this dynamic industry.”

Using information from this dataset, the IEA has estimated the energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) benefits of BRT implementation, and outlined several CO2-mitigation scenarios that rely in part on modal shift from light duty vehicles to public transit, including BRT. The IEA plans to recognize the extensive potential of BRT in its upcoming biennial report, “Energy Technology Perspectives 2012,” calling for the total network length of BRT systems to double by 2020.

“BRT is growing in importance as a transit alternative,” said Tali Trigg, energy analyst, IEA. “This database will be helpful to planners, and is an essential component in calculating energy efficient scenarios which inform decision makers of practical ways of transitioning to a more secure, sustainable and affordable energy future.”

Following are just a few examples of the data that is available from the new website:

Worldwide, 129 new corridors have been implemented since 2000, and 37 since 2010.
Latin American systems move more than 50 percent of global BRT daily passenger trips.
25 Brazilian cities have 87 bus corridors, totaling more than 560 kilometers– more than any other country.
18 of Asia’s 24 BRT systems began operations since 2006.
Systems in 13 U.S. cities together carry nearly 600,000 passenger trips each day.

Experts from the three organizations will be participating in a webinar on Tuesday, April 10, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Register here to participate: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/949999098.

Watch a screencast tutorial on how to use new website: http://youtu.be/KJU-fWvSBY0.

# # #

EMBARQ catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. To date, EMBARQ has supported the planning, implementation, and evaluation of BRT systems in at least 14 cities. www.embarq.org

Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit (ALC-BRT) Centre of Excellence works as a consortium of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Technical University of Lisbon, The University of Sydney and EMBARQ. It develops new frameworks for planning, design, financing, implementing and operating bus based transit systems in different urban areas. www.brt.cl

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous organization, which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. www.iea.org

Additional Resources

Visit the website: http://BRTdata.org
Webinar April 10, 12:00 p.m. EDT. Hear expert commentary from EMBARQ Director of Research and Practice Dario Hidalgo, ALC-BRT CoE Director Juan Carlos Muñoz, and IEA Energy Analyst Tali Trigg. Register now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/949999098
Watch videos of BRT systems around the world: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9C8FFA2249C3B7DA

Watch a Screencast Tutorial of the new BRTdata website

[Top]

Measurement and Performance Tracking in Developing Countries

Samah Elsayed — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:31:09 -0400

Developing countries face the challenge of meeting development goals while at the same time reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to address climate change. For these efforts to succeed, effective systems are needed to manage greenhouse gases and related emissions reduction activities.

To that end, the World Resources Institute (WRI) is working through the Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project to build national capacities in developing countries to measure GHG emissions and track performance toward low-carbon development goals. Lessons learned are also being shared with international audiences in order to replicate successes and inform the design of relevant rules within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

WRI is partnering with a broad range of relevant stakeholders within the six MAPT countries, including government agencies, business, and civil society organizations. WRI’s engagement within each country is prioritized according to national capacity needs, which have been identified through scoping assessments conducted with in-country partners.

MAPT is a four-year project funded primarily by the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and being carried out in partnership with key stakeholders in Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, and Thailand.

For more information on the MAPT project contact the project manager, Kelly Levin at KLevin@wri.org.

To learn more about the MAPT project visit:
Tools and Outputs
Countries

You can also read more about the individual components that make up the work:
Institutions
National GHG Emissions Inventories
Mitigation Accounting
Civil Society Policy Implementation
Industry
Forestry and Land Use
International

Low-Carbon Development in Emerging Economies

Kevin Lustig — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:25:58 -0400

Today’s major emerging economies — countries such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa — face the challenge of increasing economic development while also overcoming serious barriers to energy access and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These countries recognize the need for a shift to low-carbon climate-resilient development, but seek solutions that do not compromise growth.

It is possible to meet this challenge while addressing climate change. WRI’s vision is that these countries make a clear link between low-carbon growth and long-term prosperity, and support policies and incentives that advance national development priorities while significantly reducing GHGs. If successful, these countries would redefine the conventional growth paradigm, and offer innovative solutions that set the world firmly on a low-carbon and climate-resilient path.

Use the links below to explore WRI’s work on emerging economies:

WRI’s work by country:

(Click on a highlighted country for publications and other resources)

PRESS RELEASE: Vote Now “Active Cities, Healthy Cities!” Online Contest

Michael Oko — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:13:08 -0400

Online contest raises awareness about the public health benefits of sustainable urban development and transport in Latin America and Caribbean.

A new online competition, “Active Cities, Healthy Cities”, was launched today to raise awareness of cities in Latin America and the Caribbean dedicated to sustainable transport, the environment, and creating a healthy lifestyle for their citizens. The contest is being led by EMBARQ, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We invite city officials to nominate projects that lead to safer streets, cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions, physically active citizens, and greater social inclusion,” said EMBARQ’s Latin America Strategic Director Luis Gutierrez. “This is a chance to show the world how mass transit, cycling, walking and vibrant public spaces can improve public health.”

The contest aims to raise awareness and engage urban communities, leaders and decision-makers about the impact of urban transport and development on public health. This year marks the fourth edition of the contest, which was created by PAHO and CDC in 2002. The contest has been supported by EMBARQ – The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport since 2007, with coordination by EMBARQ’s Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México) and Center for Sustainable Transport in Brazil (CTS-Brasil).

“We are pleased to see the launch of Active Cities, Healthy Cities online,” said Dr. Becky Lankenau, Director of the CDC/World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Physical Activity and Health. “It is important to recognize innovative efforts by urban communities in urban transport and development.”

Any city official representing a municipality, local government or associated agency can sign up for an account on the tri-lingual website—displayed in English, Portuguese and Spanish—and nominate projects that relate to one of four main categories: 1) Sustainable Transport and Air Quality; 2) Public Space, Security and Civic Culture; 3) Physical Activity and Recreation; and 4) Road Safety. Users will have the chance to include written details about their project, plus upload related photos and videos.

Once a project is submitted, it will be open to online public voting, which will occur in three rounds, ending in August. Projects can be shared online through social media, including Facebook and Twitter. The projects that receive the most votes in each category at the end of each round will automatically be identified as finalists and reviewed by a panel of expert judges from the fields of urban and transport planning and public health.

“For the first time, we’re bringing this contest online to allow as many people as possible to participate,” said Enrique Jacoby, Regional Advisor on Healthy Eating and Active Living at PAHO. “We encourage everyone to vote for their favorite projects and share them with friends and fellow citizens, especially through social media. While viruses are usually dangerous in the public health community, we definitely want this contest to ‘go viral.’”

The four winners (one for each category) will be honored at an awards ceremony and be given opportunities to receive international media exposure, including a professionally produced video documentary about their project. The eight honorable mentions (two for each category) will also be exposed to international and local press, promoted on the Internet through online social media, and shared with other cities as a best practice of healthy, active living.

Winners will be announced on October 3-5 at the International Sustainable Transportation Congress, organized by EMBARQ’s Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México) in Mexico City.

For more information, visit www.concursocacs.com, or follow the contest on Twitter: @concursocacs.

# # # #

The World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives.

EMBARQ - The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport (www.embarq.org) catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities.

The Pan American Health Organization (www.paho.org) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. It works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) is the U.S.’s premier public health agency. CDC’s Mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information and tools that people and communities need to protect their health- through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.

MEDIA ADVISORY: EMBARQ Transport Expert Joins Brookings Panel on Bus Rapid Transit in Latin America

Michael Oko — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:21:56 -0500

On Tuesday, March 8, the Latin American Initiative at the Brookings Institution will host a panel discussion on lessons learned from Latin America and the applicability of bus rapid transit (BRT) in the United States.

Dario Hidalgo, director of research and practice at EMBARQ, WRI’s Center for Sustainable Transport, will be one of the panelists. You can read a recent New York Times article about lessons from BRT in developing countries: here.

Other panelists include Marc Elrich, councilmember of Montgomery County, Maryland; Sam Zimmerman, urban transport adviser at the World Bank; and Robert Puentes, senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. Mauricio Cárdenas, senior fellow and director of the Latin America Initiative, will moderate the discussion.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions.

WHAT:
Panel discussion on bus rapid transit in Latin America, including lessons for BRT in the United States.

WHO:
Mauricio Cárdenas, Senior Fellow and Director, Latin America Initiative, The Brookings Institution

Marc Elrich, Councilmember Montgomery County, Maryland

Darío Hidalgo, Director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ WRI Center for Sustainable Transport

Robert Puentes, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Sam Zimmerman, Urban Transport Adviser, World Bank

WHERE:
The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

WHEN:
Tuesday, March 8, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

If you would like to arrange an interview with Dario, please contact Erica Schlaikjer at: eshlaikjer@wri.org.

To RSVP for the event, please contact the Brookings Institution, Office of Communications at (202) 797-6105, or click here.

Modernizing Public Transportation: Lessons learned from major bus improvements in Latin America and Asia

Maggie Barron — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:52:37 -0400

The mega-cities of Latin America and Asia rely on public transport to keep their citizens moving and economies working while mitigating the negative environmental impacts of rapid motorization. Increasingly, these cities are upgrading or even transforming their public transport systems to better serve the needs of their populations and the environment. Some of these efforts have been more successful than others and some more widely publicized. To date, however, there has been no synthesis of benefits and shortcomings of the various approaches taken, in order to inform future urban transport projects in emerging nations. There are several studies, for example, about the celebrated successes of the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system in Bogotá, Colombia, and its counterpart in Curitiba, Brazil, but little literature on the shortcomings of these, and similar systems, creating an informational gap in constructive advice on lessons to be learned.

This study seeks to fill that information gap by summarizing key findings and lessons learned from a comprehensive review of major bus improvements in 13 Latin American and Asian cities. In particular, it reviews and synthesizes information regarding challenges experienced by transport system decision makers in three key areas: planning, implementation and operations. In order to assist urban transport planners and implementing agencies, the study also provides recommendations on avoiding or mitigating similar difficulties when introducing bus reforms in developing world cities.

The selected cities were chosen for several reasons including: long-term recognition in urban transport practices, multi-functional land usage practices for urban environments, and/or the recent1 completion of bus system improvements. The review includes the following cities: Curitiba, Quito, Bogotá, São Paulo, León, México City, Pereira, Guayaquil, Santiago and Guadalajara in Latin America, and Jakarta, Beijing and Ahmedabad in Asia. The cities vary in size and socioeconomic characteristics (see table 1), but in each case buses account for a substantial portion of total public transport use and bus rapid transit (BRT) was introduced as a component of reform.

How to Use this Report

This synthesis report summarizes cross-cutting issues gleaned from an in-depth review of 13 cities based on an analysis of available material, site visits, and interviews with stakeholders, especially members of implementation teams and transit operators. Case studies about several of the reviewed cities have been published on the EMBARQ (www.embarq.org) website.

The following three sections of this report provide:

An overview of transit provision in the target cities, together with technical, financial and performance information about the bus systems;
A synthesis of lessons learned from addressing issues that arose in the planning, implementation and operation of the bus systems;
Conclusions and recommendations for urban planners and transit decision makers in developing countries.

Key Findings

The transit improvements in 13 cities reviewed in this report resulted in a variety of improved conditions for city commuters, some of which also benefited the population at large and the environment. These included reductions in air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and traffic accidents, and efficiency improvements by bus rapid transit corridors compared with traditional bus services. Corridors in the selected bus systems exhibit very high usage levels (1,780-43,000 passengers/hour/direction), with comparatively low capital investments2 (US$1.4-12.5 million/km), and little or no operational subsidies.

The review also revealed common challenges and lessons:

No project was perfectly executed, due to a combination of institutional, technical, financial and/or politically induced time constraints;
Initial implementation was generally rushed, causing operational and user problems;
Financial and institutional sustainability was not necessarily assured;
Bus rapid transit routes were often not fully integrated into the rest of the cities’ public transport system;
Many projects faced extensive challenges in accommodating regular city traffic;
In cities where BRT services were new, or expanded quickly, public information and user education was critically important to a smooth launch.

Recommendations

Planning Phase

Institute a comprehensive planning process which combines financial, legal, institutional and environmental concerns with engineering/ technical efforts.
Improve the quality of information used to make decisions on key building blocks of a new or improved transport system, such as: route selection, basic infrastructure concepts (median lanes, types of stations, terminals), vehicle technologies, and types of operation.
Dedicate enough resources—time and money— for adequate project preparation, but avoid endless alternatives analysis.
Use experiences from other cities as a reference, but adapt system components and characteristics to local conditions.
Seek to create special purpose full-time teams for system planning and implementation, independent from day-to-day responsibilities.

Decision-making Process

Get early approval from high-level decision makers as top-down approaches are faster and resolve interagency conflict. At the same time, maintain community involvement through education and participatory processes.
Maintain and nurture high-level approval and buy-in during the implementation and operation of the system.
Pay careful attention to regulatory/institutional issues, adapting the existing regulatory framework if required. Where bus improvements are to be integrated with an existing metro system, convince the rail operator that the BRT is complementary, not a competitor.

NEWS RELEASE: New Study Reviews Major Bus Improvements in 13 Latin America and Asia Cities

Michael Oko — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:31:37 -0400

A new report, “Modernizing Public Transportation,” presents the first comprehensive review of major bus improvements in 13 Latin America and Asia cities.

Released by EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s Center of Sustainable Transport, the report synthesizes the challenges faced by transport system decision-makers in three key areas: planning, implementation and operations. In order to assist urban transportation planners and agencies, the study provides recommendations for avoiding or mitigating similar difficulties when introducing bus reforms in cities in the developing world.

“Modern buses are a key component of public transportation which has a major impact on the quality of life—including the environment, air pollution and public health—for millions of people,” EMBARQ Senior Transport Engineer Dario Hidalgo said. “Increasingly, these cities are upgrading or even transforming their public transport systems to better serve the needs of their populations and the environment.”

The report finds that the transit improvements in 13 cities resulted in a variety of improved conditions. These include reductions in air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and traffic accidents, as well as increased efficiency by bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors compared with traditional bus services. Corridors in the selected bus systems exhibit very high usage levels (up to 45,000 passengers per hour in each direction), with comparatively low capital investments (less than $12.5 million per kilometer) and small operational subsidies.

Gloria Hutt, vice minister of transportation for Chile, said: “Nobody questions the design of foundations in buildings, but everybody has something to say regarding the solutions to the difficult problems of urban mobility. Complex problems require some degree of sophistication in the analysis, and good transport engineering is key to provide the best alternatives to the decision makers.”

The report looks at transportation in 13 cities and will present in-depth case studies of nine of the cities. The first two case studies—profiling Leon and Guadalajara, Mexico—will be available by the end of October. The remaining seven case studies will be published by the end of November, including Bogota and Pereira, Colombia; Curitiba, Brazil; Guayaquil and Quito, Ecuador; Mexico City, Mexico; and Santiago, Chile. The other cities covered in the report are Sao Paulo, Brazil; Beijing, China; Ahmedabad, India; and Jakarta, Indonesia.

The research was first announced at an Executive Committee meeting for the recently established Latin American Association of Integrated Transport Systems and Bus Rapid Transit (SIBRT), held during the 16th Latin American Congress on Urban Public Transport (CLATPU).

A full copy of the report, including the executive summary, can be found here: http://bit.ly/aEK7zs

MEDIA ADVISORY: Latin American Transit Agencies Launch New Transportation Association

Jessica Forres — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:38:59 -0400

WHAT: Top executives from Latin America’s most influential transit agencies will hold the first official meeting and opening ceremony for the launch of the Latin American Association for Bus Rapid Transit and Integrated Transport Systems or Asociación Latinoaméricana de Sistemas BRT y Sistemas Integrados de Transporte (ALABRT). Participants include the presidents and senior staff of 17 transit agencies from cities in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Chile. Officials from Bogota’s Transmilenio in Columbia and Curitiba’s RIT in Brazil, two of the region’s most successful BRT systems, will also be present. The three-day event is hosted by Mayor of Curitiba Carlos Alberto Richa, sponsored by the Andean Development Corporation, and organized by the World Resources Institute’s EMBARQ Network.

WHEN:
Wednesday, April 14 to April 16, 2010

WHERE:
Av. Cândido de Abreu, 817 - Centro Cívico - Curitiba/PR.

WHO: Carlos Alberto Richa, Mayor of Curitiba, and Eduardo Guimarães, Curitiba’s secretary of international relations, will host the association’s first meeting and launch ceremony.

Jaime Lerner, former Mayor of Curitiba and renowned architect and urban planner, will be named Honorary President of ALABRT.

Luis Antonio Lindau, president of EMBARQ’s Center for Sustainable Transport in Brazil (CTS-Brasil)

Luis Gutierrez, EMBARQ’s director for Latin America

WHY: ALABRT seeks to promote sustainable transport in Latin America by helping transit agencies share knowledge and build the capacity needed to improve the quality of their services, foster an efficient and competitive transport industry, and develop solutions to improve health, quality of life and economic competitiveness in Latin American cities.

RSVP: Rejane Fernandes, CTS-Brasil communications coordinator +55 (51) 3312-6324 or rfernandes@ctsbrasil.org

NEWS RELEASE: WRI’s EMBARQ Network Launches Association to Advance Public Transport in Latin American Cities

Jessica Forres — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:02:27 -0400

Top executives from Latin America’s most influential transit agencies will gather next month to launch the Latin American Association for Bus Rapid Transit and Integrated Transport Systems–a member-driven organization that seeks to advance urban public transport and improve quality of life in the region’s biggest cities.

EMBARQ – The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport, which launched the initiative, will serve as the association’s Technical Secretariat, under the leadership of EMBARQ’s Director for Latin America Luis Gutierrez.

Guitierrez said, “Despite the progress of urban mass transit in Latin America, the managers of transit agencies and other transport projects do not currently have the tools to deal with some of the problems that exist in the industry. This new association will help transport officials identify common challenges, share their experiences and knowledge, and ultimately, improve their services.”

Association members will pay an annual fee to participate in meetings and workshops that will take place throughout the year. EMBARQ Network experts will work with members to measure the performance, impact and management of their city’s existing transit systems, as well as to plan and implement future transport projects.

Specific technical and managerial support will come from the EMBARQ Network’s three Latin American centers: the Center for Sustainable Transport in Brazil (CTS-Brasil), the Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México), and the Center for Sustainable Transport and Health in the Andean Region (CTSS-Andino.)

“Latin America has some of the highest rates of urbanization and motorization in the world, leading to problems, such as congestion, pollution, traffic-related injuries and deaths, and the loss of public space,” said CTS-Brasil Director Toni Lindau, who helped convene the association. “By sharing best practices, members of ALABRT will be able to improve the quality of their service, foster an efficient and competitive transport industry, and demonstrate how bus rapid transit, metro, rail and other integrated transport systems can help improve health, safety, quality of life and economic competitiveness in a city.”

“The association is set up to be an institutional vehicle for direct communication and collaboration among Latin America’s premiere transit agencies,” Gutierrez said. “We hope to grow the association to include other members, including multilateral development banks, nonprofits, businesses, transport planners and other experts.”

The first official meeting and opening ceremony for the Latin American Association for Bus Rapid Transit and Integrated Transport Systems or Asociación Latinoaméricana de Sistemas BRT y Sistemas Integrados de Transporte (ALABRT) will take place on April 14-16 in Curitiba, Brazil. Participants include the presidents and senior staff of 17 transit agencies from cities in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Chile. Officials from Bogota’s Transmilenio in Columbia and Curitiba’s RIT in Brazil, two of the region’s most successful BRT systems, will also be present.

The event will be hosted by Brazil’s Mayor of Curitiba Carlos Alberto Richa and sponsored by the Andean Development Corporation. Former mayor of Curitiba, Jaime Lerner, who helped transform his city through sustainable transport and urban planning, will be named Honorary President.

WRI’s Jonathan Lash to Brief Journalists on Environmental “Stories to Watch” for 2010

Paul Mackie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:42:50 -0500

WHAT: For the seventh straight year, Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute, will hold a briefing for journalists to preview key environmental issues to watch this year.

WHEN: Thursday, January 7, 2010
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EST
Presentation and Q-and-A Session
(Continental Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m.)

WHERE: National Press Club
First Amendment Room
529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20045
(Metro: Red, Orange and Blue Lines to Metro Center)

WHO: Jonathan Lash, president, World Resources Institute

WHY: Will the Copenhagen Accord be implemented and, if so, how? With the help of the “London Challenge” and other initiatives, how much is the long-neglected potential for forest restoration beginning to change? Are SEC laws relating to climate change likely to be enforced due to the financial crisis? What options do the EPA and Congress have for reducing CO2, and who will provide federal leadership? What environmental and political factors will come into play as China focuses on implementing its 40 percent to 45 percent target to reduce carbon intensity? What progress is Congress making on a bill to limit Chesapeake Bay pollution?

Jonathan Lash has a strong record of working closely with CEOs of major corporations, members of Congress and the White House, and leaders from countries worldwide. He is a unique and trusted voice from the environmental NGO community for these leaders, and journalists can benefit from his insight for their future stories on issues ranging from climate and business action to water and forests.

Rolling Stone called him a “climate warrior and hero,” recognizing him for bridging the divide between industry and environmental leaders. He was named one of the world’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Finance by Treasury & Risk Management magazine, and was the only leader of a non-profit environmental organization to make the list.

A former co-chair of President Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development and secretary of natural resources in Vermont, Lash currently serves on the advisory board of Generation Investment Management, on the GE Ecomagination Advisory Council, and as a leader of the United States Climate Action Partnership.

RSVP: Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org
Jessica Forres, WRI media officer, +1(202) 729-7684, jforres@wri.org

MEDIA ADVISORY: CTS-Brasil, Challenge Bibendum Unite Latin American Mayors to Advance Sustainable Urban Transport

Paul Mackie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:24:02 -0500

WHAT: The 2009 Sustainable Mobility Convention in Urban Renewal, hosted by the Center for Sustainable Transport in Brazil (CTS-Brasil), a member of the World Resources Institute’s EMBARQ Network, and Challenge Bibendum, an initiative sponsored by Michelin. The two-day event will gather mayors and transport officials from the 120 biggest cities in Latin America to discuss innovative initiatives for urban renewal and sustainable transport. For more info, go here.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26, 2009

WHERE: Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Av. Atlântica, 4240, Copacabana, 22070-002, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Phone: (+55) 21 25251232

WHO: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, will present at the Opening Ceremony, along with the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, and the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes. The Convention will also attract leaders like Jaime Lerner, former mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, who conceived and implemented the first bus rapid transit system in the world, and Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, who greatly improved mobility and accessibility in the capital.

WHY: Participants will discuss alternatives for a more equitable and sustainable use of road space, opportunities for integrating the use of private and public transportation, and best practices of non-motorized transport in the urban context.

RSVP: Rejane Fernandes, CTS-Brasil communications and institutional relations coordinator +55 (51) 3312-6324, rfernandes@ctsbrasil.org