ForschungLaufende ProjekteMaking Sustainable Mobilities - Interdisciplinary Perspectivesmobil.TUM 2011 conference, in cooperation with Oskar von Miller Forum and Cosmobilities Network In the age of globalisation, transportation forms the backbone of an interconnected world. But at the same time it is the source of some of the unintended negative environmental, economic, social and political risks and effects shaping the modern world. Advances in transportation technologies have sustained networked patterns of social and economic life. The increase in mobility and travel comes along with disintegrative social processes. Far-flung social networks and the mobility burdens of commuting and business travel undermine traditional social forms such as families, neighborhoods and communities. New inequalities, social exclusions and risks arise in connection with unequal availabilities and accessibilities of transportation means. The dependence on fossil fuels and information makes transportation systems increasingly vulnerable to shocks in energy markets and systemic failure. The conference ‘Making Sustainable Mobility’ starts from the assumption that the aims of sustainable mobility and transport are suitable for meeting today´s challenges, namely: demographics, climate change, energy scarcities, social inequalities, and the shortage of public households. There is no other existing concept available to cope with these problems in a comparatively comprehensive and commonly accepted way. The concept of sustainable mobility questions post-fossil mobility, efficient and environmentally-friendly, and socially inclusive mobilities. A broad concept such as this is at risk for becoming arbitrary. The term “sustainable mobility” is used in various contexts in political debates, as well as in scientific literature. Often it emerges without a concrete definition of what is meant by this term. Low public acceptance can result from this ambiguity. Sustainable mobility has been criticised in the past as being just a catchword disguising actors’ contradictory interests without having any substance. Nevertheless, the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable mobility have been unfolding strong forces in political consensus, with many stakeholders agreeing upon them. For example, in 1997, the EU included the goal of sustainable development in the Treaty of Amsterdam as an overarching objective of EU policies. In 2006, the current sustainable development strategy was adopted (European Commission, 2009). Sustainability is considered a guideline for all fields of politics in many countries. Therefore, scientific discussion and consensus concerning questions of sustainable development are inevitable. The goal of satisfying both the needs of society today and those of future generations is ambitious and touches on many disciplines. The discussion on sustainable mobility is even more difficult. Decisions in transport policy have impacts on everybody’s life. Changing current unsustainable mobility patterns requires changes in daily routines, institutional and corporate practices. Designing sustainable transportation systems requires profound knowledge about the social, environmental, ecological and institutional complexities of mobility and travel. Against this background, the overall aim of this conference is to allow different disciplines to discuss and work together productively on this ambitious concept of sustainable mobility.
Keywords: Sutainable mobility, interdisciplinarity, conference Partner: Oskar von Millar Forum und Cosmobilities Network Datum: April 7th 2011 - April 8th 2011 Ansprechpartnerin: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann.
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