PARIS, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Transport Forum has launched its second online debate on "The Transport Sector and Climate Change" in preparation for its upcoming Forum, to be held in Leipzig on 28-30 May.

"The transport sector is responsible for a significant and growing share of greenhouse gas emissions and most indications are that transport activity and emissions will double or more in the next 30 years", said Jack Short, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum in Paris on Monday, at the launch of their second online debate. "On the other hand", explained Short "political objectives have set global emission reductions of the order of 50% by the middle of the century. The stark conclusion is that we do not have the policies in place or planned that can stabilise, let alone reduce transport emissions."

The Forum web debate has been launched to encourage public input to the discussions in Leipzig. Input from the online debate and the best questions and comments will be brought to the attention of delegates and Ministers at the Forum.

The Forum's new debate "The Transport Sector and Climate Change" has been created with the purpose of stimulating suggestions, discussion and opinion from both experts and others. Questions open for debate concern aims and objectives that Ministers should have for the transport sector, the role of technology in reducing transport CO2 emissions, how best technology can be introduced and what transport policy measures Ministers should support so as to make a real difference.

With the theme "Transport and Energy: The Challenge of Climate Change", the Forum will be held in Leipzig on 28-30 May 2008 and will gather Transport Ministers from upward of 50 countries together with industry leaders and top researchers.

To participate in the debate and for more information on the above Forum and how to attend see http://www.internationaltransportforum.org

Michael Zirpel Communications Director International Transport Forum Tel. +33-1-45-24-95-96 Fax +33-1-45-24-13-22/97-42 2 rue André Pascal F-75775 Paris Cedex 16 michael.zirpel@oecd.org http://www.internationaltransportforum.org

Michael Zirpel, Communications Director, Tel. +33-1-45-24-95-96, Fax +33-1-45-24-13-22/97-42, 2 rue André Pascal, F-75775 Paris Cedex 16, International Transport Forum, michael.zirpel@oecd.org