Minister for Transport of Ireland, Eamon Ryan, convened the second National Sustainable Mobility Forum on Thursday 23rd May 2024, aligning with a commitment under Ireland’s National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP). The Forum, held in Portlaoise, is an annual event aimed at engaging stakeholders on progress related to the support and promotion of walking, cycling, public transport, and shared mobility in Ireland.

This edition of the Forum, organised by the Department of Transport and facilitated by BABLE, marks two years since the publication of the SMP and the midpoint in delivering the current SMP Action Plan, which runs until the end of 2025. Participants were invited to consider the behavioural and societal changes needed to achieve the ambitious sustainable mobility targets set in the Climate Action Plan, with a view to shaping the next iteration of the SMP Action Plan from 2026.

Alongside transport stakeholders and engaging exhibits, the Forum highlighted youth and community representatives—those most likely to be impacted by the changes envisaged—and considered their role in the evolution of transport to net zero by 2050. The event was designed to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue among all participants.

During his event, the Minister also launched the Sustainable Mobility Academy, a new platform designed to facilitate knowledge-sharing and learning across our local authorities, as well as the wider public sector and beyond –supporting the delivery of sustainable mobility projects across the country in the manner envisioned in the SMP. The platform has been developed by BABLE as part of the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Accelerator Programme, one of the Pathfinder projects, led by the regional assemblies. 

A full report of the Forum, prepared by BABLE in conjunction with the Department of Transport, will be published in the weeks following the event.