The Guardian (Nigeria)

Annual Freedom Of Mobility Forum To Address Planet Needs Accommodat­ion

- Stories by Maria Diamond

ON how the planet will accommodat­e the mobility needs of eight billion people in the coming decades, students from three leading universiti­es from three continents: Africa, Europe and North America will guide debate topics at the second annual Freedom of Mobility Forum live debate scheduled to commence on April 3, 2024.

The Freedom of Mobility Forum, initiated by Stellantis and facilitate­d by a neutral third- party, is an internatio­nal gathering of passionate problem- solvers committed to fact- based discussion­s that challenge the status quo, expand perspectiv­es and identify how best to enable safe, affordable and sustainabl­e freedom of mobility for a society facing the implicatio­ns of global warming.

The students for the 2024 edition will present research on three focus areas: technology, social justice and equity, and business. They will join the debate to offer their research and perspectiv­es to address the topic: “How will our planet accommodat­e the mobility needs of 8 billion people?”

The event will explore how planetary limits could reshape freedom of mobility from technology, business, and lifestyle perspectiv­es of the forum. According to the organisers, the decisions made now will impact the future environmen­t for the next generation­s.

One spokespers­on from each school will offer opening remarks for the designated topic area that they have been researchin­g with the guidance of their respective professors.

On technology topics, students from ENSA Kenitra Morocco are looking at the environmen­tal, economic, and technologi­cal challenges posed by the three major energy sources used and planned for use in transporta­tion. They are studying technical solutions that can be leveraged to avoid resource depletion and those that can enable a more sustainabl­e lifecycle from extraction to disposal.

Social Justice and Equity would have students from The Heller School for Social

Policy and Management at Brandeis University United States explore the connection between the decisions being made about mobility due to concerns about climate change, social justice and equity. Their research covers the major factors driving inequities in access to transporta­tion and identifies relevant pathways to fostering greater mobility equity and accessibil­ity for all.

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