Before the COVID-19 global health pandemic altered production and consumption patterns, the transport sector accounted for around 24 per cent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. Even so, GHG emissions from transport are growing faster than any other sector; the global car fleet is due to triple by 2050, together with the sector’s emissions. Indeed, road transport accounts for three-quarters of all transport emissions and urban transport accounted for half of these emissions. Furthermore, urban transport results in multiple negative social and environmental impacts, such as local air pollution (through emissions of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, among other health-impairing substances), noise pollution, road congestion, and risks to safety.
Compared to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, managing these additional social and environmental impacts are of often of more direct and immediate concern to urban decision-makers. Local air pollution in many developing-country cities is a case in point, presenting opportunities to achieve various SDG co-benefits, while ensuring access to sustainable mobility for all.
Technologies and practices for urban transport that are relevant for NDC Action are often categorized according to the so-called “avoid, shift and improve” framework, with which a combination of interrelated mitigation options in the context of transport services can be examined. The ‘avoid, shift and improve’ framework envisages the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions through i) avoiding travel as far as possible, ii) shifting unavoidable demand to more efficient modes of transport, and iii) reducing the greenhouse-gas intensity of the technologies used to meet the demand for travel.
Specific actions can include the promotion of active transport, low-carbon solutions, electrification and public transport expansion and we focus on technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from specifically urban passenger transport. We provide support to countries through the provision of techno-economic analysis, advice and inputs to market creation strategies, business model development and partnerships for investment facilitation and de-risking.
