This year was one of solid achievement for the FIA Foundation, in which we can take great pride. Our main focus for the first half of the year was the global launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety on 11 May 2011 This was a massive global event, a ‘rolling launch’ starting with New Zealand and then moving across time-zones with Presidents, Prime Ministers and high-profile national figures leading the way in countries around the world.
FIA Foundation Chairman Carlos Macaya
As with the global process leading to the proclamation of the Decade of Action, the FIA Foundation was at the forefront of launch activities worldwide. From Beijing to Nairobi and Moscow to Mexico City, our Foundation joined with key partners, including automobile clubs, NGOs and national governments, to ensure that the Decade launch was a success. Our aim was ambitious, to unite the world and to start the Decade with a statement of high impact and intent.
The launch events featured in this Review demonstrate that this was certainly achieved. On 11 May, I was honoured to address Ministers from governments across my region, Latin America and the Caribbean, on behalf of the FIA Foundation. To hear Mexico’s President Calderón call for action and speak out against the daily carnage on his country’s roads gave a real sense that we are turning the corner and can hope for political commitment from the highest levels. However, we are only too conscious that the global launch on 11 May was just the beginning. The real action must start now.
We need to implement the life-saving programmes that will ensure that the Decade can reach its ambitious goal to cut the level of road deaths in 2020 by 50%. The FIA Foundation is already playing its part promoting safer drivers on safer roads in safer cars. That is why we are supporting key programmes such as the FIA Action for Road Safety Initiative, the International Road Assessment Programme, and the Global New Car Assessment Programme.
Our environmental work has also been taken to new levels. Our support for the Partnership for Clean Fuels and vehicles has succeeded in its campaign for the worldwide elimination of lead in fuel which is a major achievement in public health and an enabler of modern emission control technologies. Meanwhile the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) has been growing in influence; a notable success being its role assisting the Australian Government design its fuel economy standard.
This year also completes the first ten years of the Foundation’s activities. It has been an exciting journey and we can be proud of our many successes, not least the approval and launch of the UN Decade of Action. Our work over the past decade would not have been possible without the many alliances and partnerships which we are proudly part of. Together with my fellow Trustees, I would like to thank everyone over the last ten years who has worked with us to help meet our charitable objects promoting safe and sustainable mobility.
Carlos Macaya
Chairman
FIA Foundation