WRI, Shell Foundation Establish New Transport Center

5/28/2002

From: Adlai J. Amor of the World Resources Institute, 202-729-7736; E-mail: aamor@wri.org; Web site: http://www.wri.org/wri/media/ WASHINGTON, May 28 -- The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Shell Foundation today announce the establishment of a $7.5 million center called EMBARQ -- the WRI Center for Transport and the Environment, based in Washington, D.C. EMBARQ will act as a catalyst for socially, financially, and environmentally sound solutions to the problems of urban transport. The focus of its first five years of operation will be cities in developing countries where air pollution, traffic congestion, and lack of access to clean and convenient transport are most acute and the poor bear the brunt of the problem. "We have to change the way we move ourselves if we are to avoid the gridlock of environmental degradation brought out by transport," said Kurt Hoffman, director of the London-based Shell Foundation. "The vision of EMBARQ is a future where modern, healthy, and environmentally sustainable transport is available to everyone." To launch EMBARQ the Shell Foundation gave WRI an initial start-up grant of US$3.75 million; spread over a five-year period. This grant could be doubled, depending on the success of the center and other fundraising efforts. This is the largest grant given by the Shell Foundation since its establishment as an independent charity in 2000 by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. "EMBARQ will create solutions to ease traffic congestion and improve urban air quality in the growing cities of the world where air pollution has a devastating impact on public health. The solutions we are seeking will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, one of the leading drivers of climate change," said Jonathan Lash, WRI president. EMBARQ will concentrate on helping policy-makers adopt sensible transport strategies, try out likely solutions, and evaluate them openly and fairly. Results of its various projects will be shared with other cities through a Web site, http://www.embarq.org. It will work with governments, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations in about five cities in the developing world. EMBARQ's first partnership is expected to be finalized later this month in Mexico City, one of the world's biggest cities that is crippled by unparalleled transport problems. The United Nations estimates that by 2025, 54 percent of the world's 7.8 billion population will be living in urban areas. The percentage is higher in the developing world. Two years ago, 14 of the world's 19 megacities (with populations of more than 10 million people) were in the developing countries. This includes Mexico City, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Lagos, Calcutta and Shanghai. Already, there are about 292 cities in the developing world with populations of more than a million. "The growth of transport in these cities has outpaced all attempts to provide for roads, mass transit, and other forms of public transport. Transport is the primary source of air pollution in Latin America and third in Asia, after industry and households," said Dr. Jose Goldemberg, secretary of environment for the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. "It is extremely good news to hear that Shell Foundation and WRI have joined forces to tackle this problem." EMBARQ will be co-directed by Dr. Lee Schipper and Dr. Nancy Kete. For 20 years, Dr. Schipper worked at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and the last six years with the International Energy Agency in Paris. Dr. Schipper brings to WRI experience with transport and energy in four-dozen countries on six continents. Dr. Kete is the director of WRI's Climate, Energy and Pollution Program. Before that she was a deputy director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Atmospheric Programs. --- The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to create practical ways to protect the Earth and improve people's lives. The London-based Shell Foundation (http://www.shellfoundation.org) was established in 2000 to support efforts to achieve a balance between economic growth, care for the environment, and equitable social development. It is an independent U.K. charity endowed by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.