Train to Copenhagen: UIC campaign for the railways. A special opportunity, a sustained effort

09-04-2009 16:17

At the end of 2009, a new international environment agreement, successor of the Kyoto Protocol, will be signed during the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 15), which will be held in Copenhagen, during December 7 – 18, 2009. Preceding this event, UIC (International Union of Railways) launched a campaign called “Train to Copenhagen”. Initiated under the logo “Bringing people to Copenhagen and COP 15 to people”, this campaign aims at bringing awareness among the decision-makers, the press and the wide public concerning the important role of railway transport in the fight against climate change. Seeing as the transport sector is currently responsible for 26% of the CO2 emissions at international level and, unlike other sectors, it didn’t manage to reduce the toxic emissions, but, on the contrary, they continue to increase, the main objective of this campaign is to outline the eco-friendly character of railway transport, the sustained efforts and the need to make investments in the railway infrastructure and to integrate the modes of transport. This project benefits from the support of CER, EIM and other European UIC members, including ATOC (UK), Banedanmark (Denmark), Banverket (Sweden), Deutsche Bahn (Germany), DSB (Denmark), NS (Netherlands), ÖBB (Austria), RENFE (Spain), SNCB (Belgium), SNCF (France).

The power of example

During this campaign, the initiators will organise a symbolic journey on the railways, between Kyoto and Copenhagen, in order to suggest the passing to the new protocol. Another journey by train will be organised between Brussels and Copenhagen. The latter will be a real conference on rail, organised on-board a special train named “Climate Express”. This train will leave Brussels on December 5, at 10 o’clock am, with stops in Köln and Hamburg, and it will arrive in Copenhagen at 10 o’clock pm. Here, the 380 passengers will be festively received and a cultural event will be organized especially for them. Throughout the journey, various seminars, panels and presentations will take place, reuniting decision-makers, representatives from non-governmental organizations, railway companies and mass-media, with the aim of facilitating the dialogue between COP 15 participants and presenting the results obtained by UIC members.

UIC has invited its members to create national versions of this campaign. SBB and NS have already answered to this invitation. They will organise a similar conference on rail and also create a special train for the official delegations.

As part of the “Train to Copenhagen” campaign, a document will be elaborated, outlining the position of the international railway sector on climate change, as well as a special file concerning the activities undertaken in order to reduce CO2 emissions, in collaboration with CER. The UN will join the efforts made by UIC and they will integrate “Train to Copenhagen” in their own campaign, “Seal the Deal”, which aims at collecting signatures for the petition that will be presented to world leaders in order to remind them that a well-balanced, fair and efficient agreement has to be negotiated. The UN also suggested that signatures should be collected in railway stations and they invited the UIC members to join the UNEP Carbon Neutral Network, in order to benefit from an additional support in the efforts made by the railway sector to increase its energy-efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.

An on-going project

The “Train to Copenhagen” campaign is under development. The three reunions held so far will be followed by other meetings, in order to establish the activities schedule for the “Climate Express” and the selection criteria for those who will take part in this journey and to launch the subscription process for the passengers who wish to join this event. The website of this campaign, www.traintocopenhagen.org, will be constantly improve and updated and it will also promote the national campaign organised by UIC members.

Felicia Gheorgieş

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