On December 7, Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt chaired a meeting with the United Nations high level advisory group on sustainable transport. The group is appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon with the task to deliver actionable recommendations to accelerate implementation of sustainable transport solutions. The Advisory Group includes leaders from the public and private sectors and represents all modes of transport. Following their meeting in Paris the advisory group released a joint press release where Martin Lundstedt stated:
“Transport can build prosperity in the broadest sense, enhancing the quality of life for all while protecting the environment and fighting climate change. We need bold innovation and a true partnership among governments, civil society and the private sector. This Group embodies this partnership and we are committed to concrete, actionable change.”
In the same release UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated:
“I am confident that my Advisory Group will make a positive contribution towards making sustainable transport a part of the solution to the climate crisis. Implementation is key to realise the full transformative potential the agreement Parties are working hard to conclude in Paris. Transport -which currently is responsible for nearly a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions – will be essential to the solutions equation.”
During COP21 Volvo Group Chief Sustainability Officer Niklas Gustafsson moderated the Advisory Group’s high level briefing for participants at the COP21 meeting and participated in two side-events. One arranged by the Swedish government about the ambition to make Sweden the world’s first fossil-free welfare nation, and one arranged by The Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF, about their Climate Savers programme. The Volvo Group was the first automotive manufacturer allowed to participate in the programme which aims to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.
Another initiative from the Volvo Group during COP21 was giving visitors the opportunity of discovering concrete solutions to combat climate change already underway. Renault Trucks showed two innovative all-electric vehicles, the Maxity Electric and the Renault Trucks D all-electric vehicle.
Related links:
High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport’s press release
High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport website
