Policy
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Promoting and supporting sustainable transport patterns
WHO/Europe’s policy for safe and healthy transport is part of WHO’s overall efforts to reduce noncommunicable diseases, which are responsible for a large part of the disease burden in the European Region, and road traffic injuries, which are the leading cause of death for people aged 5–29 years. WHO/Europe’s mandate on transport and health is promoted through the WHO European Environment and Health Process (EHP) and the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP). Member States’ commitments are expressed in the declarations of ministerial conferences and high-level meetings.
European Environment and Health Process
Member States of the WHO European Region initiated the environment and health process on the occasion of the First Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in 1989 to protect human health from the risks of a hazardous or contaminated environment. The Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in 1999 adopted the Charter on Transport, Health and Environment, setting the basis for the work of WHO/Europe on sustainable transport and healthy transport modes.
Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme
THE PEP is a unique intergovernmental body established in 2002 by WHO/Europe and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). THE PEP consolidates the work of WHO through the Charter on Transport, Health and Environment and the UNECE work on the Programme of Joint Action on Transport and the Environment. It provides an intersectoral policy platform for Member States and other stakeholders active in the pan-European region, to collaborate to integrate environmental and health considerations into transport policies, and improve the integration of transport and urban planning.
THE PEP is a voluntary policy framework. The highest decision-making body of THE PEP is the High-level Meeting on Transport, Health and Environment, which convenes every 5–6 years and provides policy directions.
Vienna Declaration
The Fifth High-level Meeting, to be held online on 17–18 May 2021, is expected to result in the adoption of the Vienna Declaration on Transport, Health and Environment, focusing on the implementation of environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially fair and healthy mobility in the pan-European region. It is also expected that the first Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion, will be adopted.
The Vienna Declaration will define the mandate for THE PEP’s activities for 2021–2025.
Ostrava Declaration
In the declaration of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in June 2017 in Ostrava, Czechia, ministers of health and the environment from the WHO European Region advocate for a shift to low-emission and energy-efficient transport and mobility integrated with urban and spatial planning. The Ostrava Declaration also calls for advancing the implementation of existing commitments and instruments resulting from the EHP, including THE PEP.
Paris Declaration
In April 2014, ministers and high-level representatives of Member States from the pan-European region attending the Fourth High-level Meeting on Transport, Health and Environment, adopted the Paris Declaration – City in motion: People first. The Paris Declaration builds upon the priority goals adopted in the Amsterdam Declaration and broadens the strategic direction by adding a new goal “to integrate transport, health and environmental objectives into urban and spatial planning policies”. The Paris Declaration further promotes strengthening of THE PEP implementation mechanisms such as National Transport, Health and Environment Action Plans, THE PEP Relay Race (Staffette), and THE PEP Partnerships, and launches THE PEP Academy, linking science, policy and practice, as a new implementation mechanism that capitalizes on the achievements and experiences of THE PEP.
Parma Declaration
In the Parma Declaration (2010), European ministers of health and the environment recognized the burden of NCDs as one of the key environmental health challenges, and committed to act on transport and other policies to reduce this burden. The Parma Declaration also supports the implementation of commitments from the Amsterdam Declaration of the Transport Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP), which address obesity and injuries through the promotion of safe environments and physical activity.
Amsterdam Declaration
The Amsterdam Declaration (2009), adopted by the Third High-level Meeting on Transport, Health and Environment, defines the mandate for THE PEP’s activities for 2009–2014 and identifies 4 priority goals:
- contribute to sustainable economic development and stimulate job creation through investment in environment- and health-friendly transport;
- manage sustainable mobility and promote a more efficient transport system;
- reduce emissions of transport-related greenhouse gases, air pollutants and noise; and
- promote policies and actions conducive to healthy and safe modes of transport
