Within the framework of the implementation of THE PEP priority areas -
transport, health and environment integration, urban transport and demand
management a number of so-called cross-cutting issues have been identified
that require special attention. These cross-cutting issues include:
1. The specific needs and interests of EECCA and South Eastern European
countries. This relates, amongst other things, to the promotion of
cross-sectoral integration, development of targets and indicators specifically
addressing the situation of these countries, development and implementation of
administrative, financial and regulatory instruments to stimulate and enforce
the production and use of vehicles and fuels with improved environmental and
safety performance, and elaboration of investment strategies influencing modal
split towards sustainable transport.
2. The protection of ecologically particularly sensitive areas of the
pan-European region. As an example, the flora and fauna of the high Alps is
particularly sensitive to global climate change, to regional pollution or to
discontinued local (extensive) land use. In particular, substantial efforts
have been made under the UNECE Programme of Joint Action on Transport and the
Environment (POJA) in identifying criteria to designate ecologically
particularly sensitive areas. The Bressanone workshop on transboundary
pollution by traffic in the Alpine Region (February 2000) and the Eisenstadt
Conference (March 2001) highlighted the importance of the issue of ecologically
particularly sensitive areas. While the criteria and indicators for
"ecologically particularly sensitive areas" are not clearly defined in spatial
or factual terms at national or international levels, the elaboration of a
Criteria Catalogue (2000) has provided a practical tool for assessing the
ecological sensitivity of an area and led to the establishment of a task force
and a joint pilot project with Hungary on the Neusiedler Lake/Fert T region.
3. The needs of groups at high risk, in particular children. The
London Charter and the London Conference Declaration identified
children as a group particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of
environmental factors, including those stemming from transport. It called
for action to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and injuries. A
joint WHO-EEA monograph on Children's Health and the Environment (2000) has
summarized available evidence on environmental health priorities for European
children. The Third
Road Safety Week in the UNECE region (2000) was targeted at vulnerable
road users, in particular children, the elderly, handicapped, as well as
pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The Second Road Safety Week (1995)
was devoted exclusively to young road users. The
4th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (Budapest, June
2004) focused on children and environmental health in the context of
sustainable development. Specific actions focusing on the interaction between
children's mobility needs, transport policies and health effects can include
the promotion of road safety programmes specifically targeted at children,
development of opportunities for independent walking and cycling, reduction of
isolation and over-reliance on adult support for travel, and development of
awareness-raising programmes targeted at parents and educators to increase
knowledge about the health and environment impacts of transport on children.
Environment and Health (Budapest, June 2004) focused on children and
environmental health in the context of sustainable development. Specific
actions focusing on the interaction between children's mobility needs,
transport policies and health effects can include the promotion of road safety
programmes specifically targeted at children, development of opportunities for
independent walking and cycling, reduction of isolation and over-reliance on
adult support for travel, and development of awareness-raising programmes
targeted at parents and educators to increase knowledge about the health and
environment impacts of transport on children.
he health and environment impacts of transport on children.