International Transport Forum 2010 Transport and Innovation: Unleashing the Potential

This document has been translated by the International Transport Forum from the original French text The following information is based on a response to a survey carried out by the International Transport Forum on innovative policy initiatives within member countries, and countries’ efforts to promote innovation. Briefly describe innovative policy initiatives that your government has succeeded in implementing in the transport sector in recent years. Please take the widest possible definition of innovation, including innovative technologies (e.g. ITS), policies, practices (e.g. new pricing mechanisms), etc. France’s commitment and efforts in favour of sustainable development have been expanding at an unprecedented rate in recent years. 2007 marked the beginning of the Grenelle Environment Round Table process, with the opening up of a dialogue between the representatives of five key actors of society, i.e. representatives of central government, labour and management, trade union and employers ’ organisations, civil society associations and local and regional governments. This path-breaking consultation process initially made it possible to develop collective proposals for combating climate change and preparing the necessary adaptation measures. This “five-party governance ” process is, in fact, making it possible to build networks and organise a forum for discussion among actors who seldom meet and exchange ideas