Public transport leaders from more than 20 countries will
arrive in Sydney next week (4–5 November) to confront the
urgent challenges of climate change, congestion and urban
liveability, just days before international climate
negotiations begin at COP31.
London’s Transport
Commissioner Andy Lord, Deputy Mayor of London Seb Dance,
senior transport leaders from Paris and Tokyo, and NSW
Minister for Transport John Graham will be among the
headline speakers at the Public Transport Association
Australia New Zealand’s (PTAANZ) Global Transport Leaders
Summit.
As Australia prepares to serve as President of
Negotiations at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, the Summit will
put public transport’s role in reducing emissions,
supporting growing populations and strengthening economies
centre stage.
PTAANZ Chief Executive Lauren Streifer
said global cities share the same challenges, highlighting
the importance of international collaboration:
“We
are at a defining moment for our cities, our regions and our
climate. The choices we make today will determine whether we
lock in generations of congestion, emissions and car
dependency, or create more connected, productive and
liveable communities.
“Electric vehicles are part of
the solution, but we cannot electrify our way out of
congestion. We need to think bigger about how we plan our
cities and regions, where we build our homes, and how we
develop networks that better connect people to jobs,
education and opportunity.
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“Public transport is one
of the most powerful tools we have to transform how people
live, move and thrive. Australia and New Zealand have an
extraordinary opportunity to make sustainable travel the
easiest and most attractive choice,” Ms Streifer
said.
“With transport leaders from more than 20
countries gathering in Sydney, this Summit is an opportunity
to turn global ambition into local action. To learn from
cities that are already transforming, build new partnerships
and accelerate the changes that will shape our communities
for generations.”
Global Transport Leaders Summit
speakers include:
• The Hon. John Graham
MLC, NSW Minister for Transport, will discuss
keeping NSW moving through public transport investment and
transformation.
• French and Parisian
transport leaders including Grégoire de
Lasteyrie (Vice President (Transport)
Île-de-France Mobilités), Alexis de Pommerol
(Director of Lines, Grand Paris Express), plus CEO
Xavier Piechaczyk (RATP Group and
Chairwoman Hiba Fares (RATP Dev) who will
share insights from the ambitious transport-led
transformation of Paris.
• Andy
Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, will share
lessons from London’s transport network and how road pricing
and an “Ultra Low Emission Zone” has cleaned London’s
air and improved public health.
• Seb
Dance, London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, will
discuss reshaping cities through transport and urban
planning, including the recent pedestrianisation of Oxford
Street. • Rt Hon Clover Moore AO, Lord
Mayor of Sydney, will host the Gala Dinner at Sydney Town
Hall and chair a ANZ Local Government Forum
•
Leanne Reddon, Executive Director, Chicago
regional transportation authority, will share why that city
was ranked the world’s most climate-resilient.
•
Professor Tim Flannery, Chief Councillor,
Climate Council, author and 2007 Australian of the Year,
will deliver an address on the state of the
climate.
• Federal Secretary Jim Betts
will offer a national perspective on transport
policy and infrastructure (Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and
the Arts)
• Noriyoshi Yamagami,
Managing Executive Officer, Tokyo Metro, will share insights
from Tokyo’s urban rail network.
Across two days,
delegates will explore public transport, including visits to
Sydney Metro, the Sydney ferry network, Sydney Harbour
Bridge cycleway and behind-the-scenes look at electric bus
and tram depots.
“Today’s public transport
investments are a choice between congestion and liveable
cities and regions. As Australia prepares to chair the
climate negotiations at COP31, this Summit will ensure
public transport is a powerful tool to help create the
communities we want for the future. Projects like Sydney
Metro show we have the vision, technology and skills to
transform our cities with transport. Now we need the
ambition to go further,” Ms Streifer said.
The
Global Transport Leaders Summit takes place at the Hyatt
Regency Sydney on 4–5 November, with a Gala Dinner at
Sydney Town Hall on 4 November. Visit:
https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/SUMMIT26/home.html
About
PTAANZ
The Public Transport Association of Australia
New Zealand (PTAANZ) is the peak body representing the
public transport sector across the region. PTAANZ works with
government and industry to champion world-class, sustainable
and integrated transport systems that enhance our
communities. For more information, visit
www.ptaanz.org
