 At the ninth edition of the Challenge Bibendum, the focus was back on providing solutions to sustainable mobility. With the rapid increase in mobility taking place in China, it was interesting that the event itself was taking place in Shanghai. It is even more interesting that several Chinese manufacturers are keenly involved in ensuring an ecologically viable environment by producing vehicles that are eco-friendly. Challenge Bibendum 2007 saw around a 100 vehicles taking part in the tests and drives to promote their eco-friendliness. These include not only electric bicycles, urban vehicles and passenger cars but also buses and trucks. A broad array of energy sources and technologies was also on display. Like every other year several discourses, round table discussions, conferences, debates and seminars highlighted the various challenges of energy depletion and emissions. Former European Parliament President Pat Cox led an animated debate on current social expectations on sustainable mobility.
A distinguished panel of leaders and automotive industry experts zeroed in on the topic, including Etienne Krug, director of the World Health Organisation, David Pirret, executive vice-president of Shell International, Michael Harrington of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Jack Short, secretary general of the International Transport Forum (ITF). The group did not shy from controversy. President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Bjorn Stigson aimed his finger at governments, bemoaning inability of administrations worldwide to accept integrated approaches to sustainable mobility, citing it as the biggest challenge in achieving progress. _PAGEBREAK_
Apart from the debates and discussions, major manufacturers also presented their products to dispel the hazardous effects of global warming and pollution caused by increasing numbers of vehicles being put on roads every year. _PAGEBREAK_
 “The energy of tomorrow is water which has been broken down by electrical current,” Jules Verne pronounced in The Mysterious Island in 1874. “The elements of water thus released – hydrogen and oxygen – will secure the Earth’s energy supply indefinitely.” And at Challenge Bibendum the slew of hydrogen powered cars are proving the 19th century science fiction writer was ahead of his time. BMW, with models like the Hydrogen 7, the world’s first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan continues to champion Verne’s vision. The German luxury auto maker was certainly not the only one maing waves with Hydrogen power. Challenge Bibendum saw 16 hydrogen-powered vehicles from 12 different manufacturers, partnerships or universities running in its real-world rally. Hyundai, Mercedes and Nissan also promoted the benefits of hydrogen through the Tuscon, A-Class and X-Trail respectively. A liquid hydrogen filling station was also erected on site to further the cause. In addition to the programs conducted by Challenge Bibendum, the event also attracted the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). In a series of meetings the WBCSD, which is a coalition of around 200 leading international companies decided to conduct four ‘stakeholder dialogue’ (SHD) sessions in developing countries around the world, to assess the current state of awareness about mobility as an enabler of development and to gather the expectations and opinions of local stakeholders on how to achieve a better mobility and thus develop economic exchanges. WHO focused on the subject of road accidents through presentations of case studies and open discussion, advising companies to have a fleet safety strategy and support global road safety efforts. The UNEP meeting discussed the bio-energy market and the means to further invest in this sector in order to reduce CO2 emissions, strengthen energy security by diversifying sources and producing countries, and provide access to energy to the energy poor and additional income for rural communities.
Challenge Bibendum 2007 managed to touch several critical topics that need urgent attention. Though solutions did emerge,immediate implementation will be key. |
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