152 PART | IV ITS regulations, policies and standards
(Hopkins & Higham, 2016)], social impacts [e.g., social exclusion and isolation
(Lucas, 2012 )], and economic impacts [e.g., the cost of congestion (Wallis &
Lupton, 2013)].
It is imperative that we move to more sustainable transport systems. Accord-
ing to Stephenson et al. (2017), this requires market-based solutions such as
shared mobility businesses and the increasing cost-competitiveness of electric
vehicles. This is unlikely to occur without carefully designed and integrated
government interventions (Geerlings, Shiftan, & Stead, 2012).
13.5 Sustainable development goals for ITS
Sustainable development is a complex concept that is subject to numerous inter-
pretations because it involves several disciplines and possible interconnections.
It must satisfy the needs of the present without compromising the capacity of
future generations, guaranteeing the balance between economic growth, care for
the environment, and social well-being.
On January 1, 2016, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted
by world leaders in September 2015, officially came into force. The 2030
Agenda is a set of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) with 169 targets
stimulating actions to move the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. It is
an important roadmap guiding policy actions for sustainable development in the
next 15 years. The sustainable development must be able to protect the planet
and guarantee the global well-being of people. These goals require the active
involvement of individuals, businesses, administrations, and countries around
the world. They are known as the global goals. These goals are a call from the
United Nations to all countries around the world to address the great challenges
that humanity faces and to ensure that all people have the same opportunities to
live a better life without compromising our planet.
The 2030 Agenda states that sustainable transport systems, along with uni-
versal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services,
quality and resilient infrastructure, and other policies that increase productive
capacities, would build strong economic foundations for all countries (para 27).
The text includes five targets that are directly related to the transport sector and
seven other targets that are indirectly related to the transport sector.
Transport contributes directly to five targets on road safety (Target 3.6);
energy efficiency (Target 7.3); sustainable infrastructure (Target 9.1), urban
access (Target 11.2), and fossil fuel subsidies (Target 12.c) emphasize that sus-
tainable transport is not needed solely for its own sake, but rather is essential to
facilitate the achievement of a wide variety of SDGs.
Transport also contributes indirectly to seven SDG targets on agricultural
productivity (Target 2.3), air pollution (Target 3.9), access to safe drinking
water (Target 6.1), sustainable cities (Target 11.6), reduction of food loss (Target
12.3), climate change adaptation (Target 13.1), and climate change mitigation
(Target 13.2).