Infrastructure Maintenance and the decarbonization challenge
Road usage is changing. Indeed, the uses and forms of use of road infrastructure have been changing more and more rapidly, with the emergence of new forms of mobility and habits, such as soft mobility (giving priority to walking, or to bicycles and scooters), and changes in the mobility patterns, particularly in urban and suburban areas. These changes in the use of road infrastructure have led users to reconsider the ways in which they travel and give priority to more flexible mobility that has a reduced impact on emissions.
All these factors clearly reflect the changes and improvements made by the road infrastructure sector with a view to drastically reducing its impact on greenhouse gas emissions and thus contributing to the objectives set by European policies.
Sustainability, the circular economy, resilience, and adaptation to climate change have become essential to any construction project. Reducing greenhouse gases and saving energy by optimising construction processes and products have become a key issue. The road industry worldwide is reducing the need for raw materials, energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Maintenance can also have a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gases and saving energy in road transport and vehicle traffic.
Indeed, research indicates that preventive road maintenance can lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption generated by vehicles travelling on proactively maintained infrastructure.
The aim of this conference would be to question the importance of infrastructure maintenance in the context of carbon neutrality. The challenge will be to find out how infrastructure maintenance can contribute to decarbonization. The conference will bring together representatives from the public authorities, the financial world, and the construction sector.
Welcome and Opening Remarks :
- Dominique Riquet, Member of the European Parliament, Founder and Co-Chair of the Sustainable, Long-term Investments & Competitive European Industry Intergroup
Panel discussion moderated by Christophe Nicodème , European Union Road Federation (ERF) :
- Jocelyn Fajardo, Administrator, DG MOVE, European Commission
- Steve Phillips, Secretary-General, Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR)
- Jean-Pierre Paseri, Vice-President, European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC)
- Erick Constensou, Head of the technical and road environment department, Conseil départemental de Haute-Garonne (France)
- Juan José Potti, Executive President, Asefma (Spain)
- Gautier Chatelus, Deputy Director of Infrastructure and Mobility, Investment Department, Banque des Territoires, Groupe Caisse des Dépôts
Contact: Garance Galliaerde, secretariat@investmentindustryintergroup.eu
