The effects of fare-free public transport : a lesson from Frýdek-Místek (Czechia)

The fare-free public transport policy (FFPT), the characteristic feature of which is abolishing fares in public transport, influences the transport system in favour of one means of transport. By joining the academic disputes over the outcomes of the FFPT policy, the aim of this paper is to understand the effects of the FFPT on overall mobility strategies and on the dynamics of the transport system where the policy is implemented. To do so, the paper is analysing a concrete example of the FFPT practice in Frýdek-Místek (Czechia) by conducting surveys with the residents and interviews with the city planning authorities. The results show that the FFPT influences mobility strategies and dynamics in the given transport system, which imprints in an increased use of public transport. However, the FFPT does not represent a universal tool of urban and transport planning and its implementation into practice should take place in synergy with other transport (dis)incentives

World Health Statistics 2017: Monitoring Health for the SDGs

The World Health Statistics series is WHO's annual compilation of health statistics for its 194 Member States. World Health Statistics 2017 compiles data on 21 health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, with 35 indicators, as well as data on life expectancy. This edition also includes, for the first time, success stories from several countries that are making progress towards the health-related SDG targets

Modelling public transport accessibility with Monte Carlo stochastic simulations: A case study of Ostrava

Activity-based micro-scale simulation models for transport modelling provide better evaluations of public transport accessibility, enabling researchers to overcome the shortage of reliable real-world data. Current simulation systems face simplifications of personal behaviour, zonal patterns, non-optimisation of public transport trips (choice of the fastest option only), and do not work with real targets and their characteristics. The new TRAMsim system uses a Monte Carlo approach, which evaluates all possible public transport and walking origin-destination (O-D) trips for k-nearest stops within a given time interval, and selects appropriate variants according to the expected scenarios and parameters derived from local surveys. For the city of Ostrava, Czechia, two commuting models were compared based on simulated movements to reach (a) randomly selected large employers and (b) proportionally selected employers using an appropriate distance-decay impedance function derived from various combinations of conditions. The validation of these models confirms the relevance of the proportional gravity-based model. Multidimensional evaluation of the potential accessibility of employers elucidates issues in several localities, including a high number of transfers, high total commuting time, low variety of accessible employers and high pedestrian mode usage. The transport accessibility evaluation based on synthetic trips offers an improved understanding of local situations and helps to assess the impact of planned changes.Web of Science1124art. no. 709

Governance of Migrant Integration in the Czech Republic: Monitoring report on progress towards the 2030 Agenda in relation to migration

This report evaluates the migration situation in the Czech Republic through the lens of Sustainable Development Goals. The report is structured into five chapters that provide a summary of the developments and most important changes related to migrant rights and social inclusion, access to education and health care, political participation, labour market integration, development cooperation and gender equality

Green public procurement of building

Diplomová práce se zabývá problematikou Green Public Procurement staveb – konkrétně budov - v prostředí Evropské Unie. Green Public Procurement lze chápat jako Šetrná veřejná správa [3] či Zadávání zelených veřejných zakázek [4]. Obsah práce zasvěcuje čtenáře do přístupu k zadávání environmentálně šetrných veřejných zakázek z pohledu České republiky a Vlámska – federativním regionem Belgického království. Práce si klade dva hlavní cíle. Informovat a inspirovat případného veřejného stavebníka k různým způsobům zeleného zadávání veřejné zakázky a upozornit ho na případné nedostatky. Druhým, cílem je podnítit diskusi odborné veřejnosti, která by vedla ke kvalitnějšímu a efektivnějšímu zadávání environmentálně šetrné veřejné stavební zakázky. Pro oba cíle jsou využívány zahraniční zkušenosti, které mohou nabídnout neobvyklý pohled na problematiku.This diploma (master) thesis deals with the issue of Green Public Procurement of constructions – concretely buildings – in Europien Union area. Green Public Procurement can be understood as “a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured”. [1, p. 4] Sometimes it is just called Green purchasing. [2] The content of the thesis introduces readers to the approach to environmentally friendly public procurement from the perspective of the Czech Republic and Flanders - a federal region of the Kingdom of Belgium. The thesis has two main objectives. To inform and inspire a possible public builder on various ways of green public employer (owner of future building) and to draw attention to any deficiencies. The second, perhaps more serious, objective is to stimulate a discussion of the professional public, which would lead to better and more efficient Green Public Procurement

A new composite indicator to assess and monitor performance and drawbacks of the implementation of Aichi Biodiversity Targets

This paper proposes a new composite indicator for the assessment of the implementation of Aichi Targets (ATCI) following a benchmarking approach simultaneously considering performance and drawbacks. ATCI is based on 37 indicators related to the 5 Aichi Strategic Goals and its aggregated scores and ranks are calculated using three BoD-DEA models to integrate performance and drawback scores for Targets. ATCI was applied to 21 European countries and its scores were mapped and classified into four groups according to their location in performancedrawbacks space: S1) Caution, S2) Excellence, S3) Fragility and S4) Catching up. Countries in S1 and S3 are recommended to mitigate drawbacks to facilitate the implementation of the Aichi Targets. Results showed that 52% of the countries (Italy, Hungary, Greece, Czechia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Slovenia and Slovakia) should pay urgent attention to the Aichi Targets since they show the highest limitations. Based on limitations, two country profiles were identified: countries with high economic development, high population density and corresponding impacts on biodiversity, and countries of medium/low economic development, weak governance and few drawbacks related to human impacts on the environment. These impacts, however, can be aggravated if their economic situation improves and institutional constraints are not addressed

A new composite indicator to assess and monitor performance and drawbacks of the implementation of Aichi biodiversity targets

This paper proposes a new composite indicator for the assessment of the implementation of Aichi Targets (ATCI) following a benchmarking approach simultaneously considering performance and drawbacks. ATCI is based on 37 indicators related to the 5 Aichi Strategic Goals and its aggregated scores and ranks are calculated using three BoD-DEA models to integrate performance and drawback scores for Targets. ATCI was applied to 21 European countries and its scores were mapped and classified into four groups according to their location in performance-drawbacks space: S1) Caution, S2) Excellence, S3) Fragility and S4) Catching up. Countries in S1 and S3 are recommended to mitigate drawbacks to facilitate the implementation of the Aichi Targets. Results showed that 52% of the countries (Italy, Hungary, Greece, Czechia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Slovenia and Slovakia) should pay urgent attention to the Aichi Targets since they show the highest limitations. Based on limitations, two country profiles were identified: countries with high economic development, high population density and corresponding impacts on biodiversity, and countries of medium/low economic development, weak governance and few drawbacks related to human impacts on the environment. These impacts, however, can be aggravated if their economic situation improves and institutional constraints are not addressed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Territorial cohesion and structural funds programmes: urban development and territorial cooperation

Paper focusing on territorial cohesion and the structural funds programme in Europe