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The Road to Sustainable Transport

Still Only One Earth: Lessons from 50 years of UN sustainable development policy

Transport is at the center of many economic and social development challenges, accounting for about 64% of global oil consumption, 27% of all energy use, and 23% of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Rethinking and revamping transit in the post-COVID era by implementing structural changes would go a long way toward reinforcing some of the positive impacts on emission levels and air quality created by efforts to curb the pandemic. ( Download PDF ) ( See all policy briefs ) ( Subscribe to ENB )

Transport is at the center of many economic and social development challenges, accounting for about 64% of global oil consumption, 27% of all energy use, and 23% of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Rethinking and revamping transit in the post-COVID era by implementing structural changes would go a long way toward reinforcing some of the positive impacts on emission levels and air quality created by efforts to curb the pandemic.

Developing a sustainable transport network to serve a city of 10 million people and a greater metropolitan area of more than 30 million might seem insurmountable. But the city of Jakarta, Indonesia, has undertaken this daunting task. In October 2020, it became the first Southeast Asian city to win the Sustainable Transport Award for its integrated public transportation system. Transjakarta, the city’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system, reached a milestone of serving one million passengers per day in February 2020 (ITDP, 2020). Opened in 2004, Transjakarta is the longest BRT system in the world, spanning more than 250 km (155 miles), with dedicated bus lanes that carry passengers around the city (ICCT, 2020). It also connects to smaller vehicles, including local buses and informal microbuses, allowing the system to serve a larger region and more residential areas that are inaccessible by BRT alone. 

BRT systems provide metro-level services through dedicated lanes, with busways and stations typically aligned to the center of the road, off-board fare collection, and fast and frequent operations (ITDP, 2020). They are more reliable, convenient, and faster than regular bus services, and avoid traffic congestion and long lines to pay fares. But sustainable transport encompasses much more.

Transport is a crucial driver of economic and social development. Transport infrastructure connects people to jobs, education, health care, and each other. Transport enables global trade. Rural roads, for example, can help prevent maternal deaths through timely access to medical care, boost girls’ enrollment in school, and increase and diversify farmers’ income by connecting them to markets (World Bank, 2019).

At the same time, transportation produces emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change . Its infrastructure has serious impacts on ecosystems. Transport accounts for about 64% of global oil consumption, 27% of all energy use, and 23% of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Each year, almost 185,000 deaths can be directly attributed to vehicular pollution. More than 1.25 million people are killed and up to 50 million are injured on the world’s roads every year (World Bank, 2019).

Transport is at the center of many economic and social development challenges, but, as the Jakarta example illustrates, it can be more sustainable.

The UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport defines sustainable transport as “the provision of services and infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods—advancing economic and social development to benefit today’s and future generations—in a manner that is safe, affordable, accessible, efficient, and resilient, while minimizing carbon and other emissions and environmental impacts” (HLAG-ST, 2016, p.10). Sustainable transport includes public transportation, such as electric buses and trains and BRT systems that can carry people far more efficiently than cars. Notably, while electric cars pollute less and reduce individual carbon footprints, they do not reduce congestion. They still “require roads and parking spaces, are susceptible to crashes, and contribute to a dispersed and unhealthy landscape” (Blue, 2013). Other modes, such as cycling and walking, have the additional advantage of improving well-being through physical activity.

Fifty Years of Urbanization and Growing Transport Needs

When the UN Conference on the Human Environment ( Stockholm Conference ) convened in 1972, the world’s population was around 3.8 billion. Today, the world’s population has more than doubled to 7.8 billion, with a projected increase to 9.9 billion by 2050 (PRB, 2020). Currently, more than 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Urbanization and an increase in the global population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with close to 90% of this increase in Asia and Africa (UNDESA, 2018). Not surprisingly, predictions indicate transportation will double between 2005 and 2050, with vehicle numbers increasing three- or four-fold, particularly in developing countries. These numbers point to the importance of transportation systems that can service the needs of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people per day, who commute for work, school, commerce, and other reasons. However, moving so many people is no easy feat, especially in a sustainable manner.

Transport is not an end in itself but rather a means allowing people to access what they need: jobs, markets and goods, social interaction, education, and a full range of other services contributing to healthy and fulfilled lives. UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport

Simultaneously tackling the environment, public health, and equity issues is even more of a challenge. Transportation represents the largest end-use of energy in developed countries and the fastest growing one in most developing countries. It is also the fastest growing source of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world. In addition, it is responsible for around a quarter of global CO2 emissions, 72% of which come from cars and other road vehicles. From 1970 to 2010, such vehicles were responsible for 80% of the increase in emissions (Ge & Wang, 2019). Over 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, primarily gasoline and diesel.

But transportation infrastructure varies greatly in regions around the world and even within individual countries. In most of the developed world, people have multiple transport options, although they are not always available in an equitable or environmentally sensitive manner. In the developing world, the demand for mobility for people and goods grows significantly every year. Yet, an estimated one billion people in low-income countries still lack access to all-weather roads. And the poor often lack reliable and affordable public transportation (HLAG-ST, 2016, p.10).

From Stockholm to the SDGs: Sustainable Transport in the International Arena

The need for reliable and sustainable transportation has been on the international agenda for the past fifty years. The 1972 Stockholm Plan of Action highlighted the need for alternatives to meet rapidly increasing urban transportation demands, including mass transport systems and services. However, it was not until the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro that world leaders acknowledged the role of transport in sustainable development. While highlighting the sector’s essential role in economic and social development, Agenda 21 —one of the Summit’s main outcomes—also emphasized transport’s contribution to atmospheric emissions and the need for “more effective design and management of traffic and transport systems” (paragraph 9.13).

In 1997, during the five-year review of Agenda 21 implementation, the UN General Assembly expected transportation to be the major driving force behind growing global demand for energy over the next 20 years. Five years later, at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, the resulting Johannesburg Plan of Implementation provided multiple reference points for sustainable transport, in the context of infrastructure, public transport systems, delivery of goods, affordability, efficiency and convenience, improving urban air quality and health, and reducing emissions.

Ten years later, national governments went further and recognized the centrality of transportation and mobility to sustainable development. The Future We Want —the outcome document adopted at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)—stated sustainable transport can improve economic growth and integration, the environment, social equity and accessibility, public health, urban resilience, urban-rural linkages, and rural area productivity. Governments supported the development of sustainable transport systems, including energy-efficient multimodal transport systems, notably public mass transportation systems, and clean fuels and vehicles.

In 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport to develop recommendations to address increasing congestion and pollution, particularly in urban areas. The Group published its recommendations in a report, Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development , released at the first Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in 2016. The Conference emphasized the integrated and cross-cutting nature of sustainable transport and its multiple roles in supporting achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Five SDG targets are directly related to the transport sector, addressing road safety (target 3.6), energy efficiency (target 7.3), sustainable infrastructure (target 9.1), urban access (target 11.2), and fossil fuel subsidies (target 12.c). Many others are indirectly related.

The New Urban Agenda , agreed to at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016, also includes a commitment to encourage urban-rural interactions and connectivity by strengthening sustainable transport and mobility.

Has Progress Been Made?

Despite the rise of sustainable transportation on the global agenda, the 2020 UN Sustainable Development Goals Report states only half the world’s urban population has convenient access to public transportation, according to 2019 data from 610 cities in 95 countries. The report measures access as the share of the population within 500 metres walking distance of low-capacity transport systems (buses and trams) and 1,000 metres distance to high-capacity systems (trains, subways, and ferries). To compensate, many cities have resorted to and have a high prevalence of informal transport systems, which often lack consistency and safety features.

Yet, some progress has been made. Share the Road , a United Nations Environment Programme-led initiative launched in 2008, advocates for investments in walking and cycling infrastructure, including links to public transport systems. The initiative has promoted non-motorized transport programmes in Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Indonesia. It also collaborated with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) to create a toolkit for developing non-motorized policies and strategies (FIA Foundation, 2020).

Other advances include creating more “walkable cities.” In Buenos Aires, a road that once had 20 traffic lanes now dedicates the center of the road to buses. When the city made the change a few years ago, commute times shrank dramatically. Buses also no longer needed to use crowded side streets, which freed up around 100 blocks for pedestrian-priority zones where cars are restricted (Peters, 2019). Similarly, in Cuenca, Ecuador, the city’s historic center is being transformed with specific pedestrian and prioritized public transportation access. In Coimbatore, India, and Lisbon, Portugal, pedestrians and cyclists have priority access, with a shift away from a car-orientated society toward an increased focus on pedestrians. Guangzhou, China, has a new 500 km (311 miles) greenway for pedestrians and cyclists (ITDP, 2020).

Cycling has been a major focus in many cities, from the implementation of bike share programmes, to increasing bike lanes and bike parking. Niterói in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Frankfurt, Germany, and Guatemala City, Guatemala, are investing in cycling infrastructure. Kampala, Uganda, and Windhoek, Namibia, have established bike share systems to support social advancement, particularly for the poor. Many cities view improvements in cycling and pedestrian spaces as going hand-in-hand. For example, Lviv, Ukraine, has enacted a complete street design, which improved cycle lanes to such an extent public transit users have stopped driving to bus stations (ITDP, 2020).

The Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) coordinates programmes to reduce vehicular and road transport emissions in developing countries by promoting cleaner fuels and vehicles. When the PCFV was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, most developing and transitional countries were still using leaded fuel. Today, only six use leaded fuel.

In Egypt, a Vehicle Scrapping and Recycling Program enabled taxi owners to voluntarily turn in their outdated, high-polluting vehicles for managed scrapping and recycling in exchange for new, more environmentally friendly vehicles. The new taxis were purchased from pre-registered vehicle dealers at a discounted price and with financing facilities. By the end of 2018, around 45,000 taxis had been turned in, scrapped, and recycled in Cairo alone, resulting in emission reductions of approximately 350,000 tonnes (World Bank, 2018).

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) , electric micromobility options are also rapidly expanding, with shared electric scooters, electric-assist bicycles, and electric mopeds now available in over 600 cities across more than 50 countries. An estimated 350 million electric two/three-wheelers, the majority of which are in China, make up 25% of those in circulation worldwide. Many Chinese cities have banned two-wheelers with internal combustion engines.

A COVID Silver Lining?

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to transform transportation systems. Response and recovery efforts, including stimulus packages to restart economies harmed by global lockdowns, could improve both the environment and human health if they are aligned with low carbon development pathways.

Pandemic-related travel restrictions temporarily led to emission reductions and improved air quality in some areas prone to heavy smog and air pollution. For example, New Delhi, India, one of the world’s most polluted cities, saw some of the cleanest air in decades. Air quality index (AQI) levels regularly fell below 20 during the initial lockdown phase in March and April, due to a decrease in cars on roads and factories shuttering. Normally, AQI levels in Delhi reach 200 on good days, and more than 500 during high pollution months from October to December (Ellis-Peterson, H., 2020). The AQI shows changes in the amount of pollution in the air, with higher numbers indicating greater pollution and more negative health impacts.

Rethinking and revamping transit in the post-COVID era by implementing structural changes would go a long way toward reinforcing some of the positive impacts on emission levels and air quality fostered by efforts to curb the pandemic. Several European cities have already used the lockdowns as an opportunity to adopt more sustainable transport strategies for their residents. They have closed streets to cars, created pedestrian malls, and expanded bicycle lanes to help people maintain physical distance while commuting during the crisis, and to enhance post-pandemic economic activity and quality of life.

I don’t want people to say ‘Oh, environmentalists are celebrating this lockdown’: We are not. This is not the solution. But whatever the new normal is post-COVID-19, we have to make sure we take this breath of fresh air and think about the serious efforts we need to deal with pollution in Delhi. Sunita Narain , Indian Environmentalist

In Milan and the surrounding Lombardy region, motor traffic congestion dropped by 30-75% during Italy’s lockdown. The city responded by transforming 35 km (22 miles) of streets with expanded bicycle lanes and widened sidewalks so residents could social distance (Laker, 2020). Since the beginning of the COVID recovery phase, European cities and national governments have allocated at least EUR 823 million to active mobility and announced more than 1,200 km of cycling infrastructure, including in Brussels and Paris (Chini, 2020).

Cities in developing countries have also risen to the challenge. In March, Bogotá, Colombia, established an 84 km emergency bike network for essential workers (Jarmarillo, 2020). Jakarta is planning a 500 km cycling network, the first 63 km of which are already in place. As in many cities around the world, cycling in Jakarta has grown during the pandemic, increasing by 500% citywide during the summer and by 1000% in high-volume travel areas (Oktavianti, 2020).

Maintaining the Momentum

Despite these accomplishments, more must be done. At the national level, for example, government subsidies should go toward sustainable transport systems instead of fossil fuels. The Energy Policy Tracker provides up-to-date information about policy responses to COVID-19 from a climate and energy perspective and tracks public financing for energy in recovery packages. However, it shows that 30 major economies still pledged around USD 268 billion to fossil fuels, 47% of all public money committed to energy-intensive sectors compared to 35% for clean energy. Notably, China, as of January 2021, had committed five times more money to clean energy than to fossil fuels. China, which prioritized electrification of its public transit with subsidies and national regulations, has more than 400,000 electric buses, about 99% of the world’s total (Margolis, 2019). The multitude and breadth of innovations is encouraging for the future of sustainable transport. Electric vehicles could further expand with the addition of charging stations. However, many developing countries still need access to reliable electricity sources for this low-carbon option to really take off.

Electric vehicles can also reduce emissions in heavy-duty trucks, aviation, and shipping. The IEA reports global sales of electric trucks hit a record in 2019 with over 6,000 units. Research on dynamic charging concepts may enable expansion of the range of operations for heavy-duty and long-distance operations for regional buses and long-haul trucking. Electrification of shipping operations at ports is increasingly common and is gradually mandated by legislation in Europe, China, and some parts of the United States. In aviation, the electrification of airport ground operations offers potential for emission reductions and operational cost savings.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted what is possible. Transforming mindsets is the first step. As Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, once said: “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”

Works Consulted

Blue, E. (2013). Bikenomics: How bicycling can save the economy, 2nd ed . Microcosm Publishing.

Chini, M. (2020). Lockdown: Brussels in European top 3 for pro-cycling plans. The Brussels Times . https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/117107/lockdown-brussels-in-european-top-3-for-pro-cycling-plans/

Ellis-Petersen, H., Ratcliffe, R., Cowie, S., Daniels, J.P., & Kuo, L. (2020). ‘It’s positively alpine!’: Disbelief in big cities as air pollution falls. The Guardian . https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/11/positively-alpine-disbelief-air-pollution-falls-lockdown-coronavirus

FIA Foundation. (2020). Investing in people who walk and cycle: Share the Road Programme annual report 2019. http://airqualityandmobility.org/STR/STR_AnnualReport2019.pdf

Ge, M., & Wang, S. (2019). Everything you need to know about the fastest-growing source of global emissions: Transport. World Resources Institute Blog. https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/10/everything-you-need-know-about-fastest-growing-source-global-emissions-transport

Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. (2020). STA receives record number of applicant cities for 2021 award. https://www.itdp.org/2020/10/02/sta-receives-record-number-of-applicant-cities/

Jarmarillo, A. (2020). Bogotá is building its future around bikes. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-10/to-tame-traffic-bogot-bets-big-on-bike-lanes

Laker, L. (2020). Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown. The Guardian . https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/milan-seeks-to-prevent-post-crisis-return-of-traffic-pollution

Margolis, J. (2019). China dominates the electric bus market, but the US is getting on board. The World. https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-10-08/china-dominates-electric-bus-market-us-getting-board

Oktavianti, T.I. (2020). Jakartans turn to bicycles to commute in ‘new normal.’ Jakarta Post . https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/06/14/jakartans-turns-to-bicycles-to-commute-in-new-normal.html

Peters, A. (2019). These 8 cities are taking bold steps to get rid of cars. Fast Company . https://www.fastcompany.com/90321627/these-8-cities-are-taking-bold-steps-to-get-rid-of-cars

Population Reference Bureau. (2020). 2020 world population data sheet. https://www.prb.org/2020-world-population-data-sheet/

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2018). 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN. Press Release. https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html

UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport. (2016). Mobilizing sustainable transport for development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2375Mobilizing%20Sustainable%20Transport.pdf

UNEP. (2017). Why does partnership for clean fuels and vehicles matter? https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/transport/what-we-do/partnership-clean-fuels-and-vehicles/why-does-partnership-clean

World Bank. (2018). Egypt: Scrapping and recycling old vehicles to lower pollution and improve livelihoods. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/10/25/egypt-scrapping-and-recycling-old-vehicles-to-lower-pollution-and-improve-livelihoods

World Bank. (2019). Transport: Overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport/overview#1

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Infrastructure Solutions: How to adapt transport to a sustainable future

Sustainable transport investment builds greener infrastructure for a future without fossil fuels. It also has to expand, modernise, and adapt to the needs of the future. Here’s how to do it.

• By Birgitte Keulen
• By Stéphane Petti
• Part of the series "Infrastructure solutions"
• 22 June 2022

By Stephane Petti and Birgitte Keulen

Transport is an essential part of our everyday life. Every day, reliable transit affects our ability to obtain or keep a job, meet close relatives and friends, or access crucial public services. Transport is also the backbone of the modern economy, allowing for the movement of goods, services, capital, and workers across countries. The freedom of movement of people and goods is impossible without transport infrastructure.

But transport is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union . It accounts for around 31% of total emissions in the EU and 24% worldwide in 2019 . It is also the only economic sector in which emissions have continued to rise up until the pandemic. With the number of people and goods demanding transport is expected to grow after the recovery, governments and businesses are trying to change this. That means innovating and delivering new mobility solutions that will be not only affordable, but also, safe, accessible, efficient, and green.

Globally, transport infrastructure will require $50 trillion of investment by 2040, and the investment gap is estimated at $10 trillion, according to Global Infrastructure Outlook . It’s an intimidating number, but, in fact, it creates a window of opportunity to support research and development of cutting-edge technologies, such as alternative fuel and green batteries, and new infrastructure solutions like electrical charging and hydrogen networks.

As a big transport lender , the European Investment Bank is trying to mobilise investments in green and innovative transport. By financing a vast array of projects and initiatives all over the world, the Bank shows we can strike a balance between greater demand of mobility and sustainability . Here is how financing innovation and energy transition could help transform the transport sector in a truly sustainable way.

The energy transition towards a cleaner transport

The transport sector faces major issues in its goal to become sustainable. On the one hand, it continues to rely almost entirely on fossil fuels , with almost 95% of the fuel being from fossil sources in 2019. On the other hand, around the world, countries are stuck with ageing transport networks that not only need repairs but also can no longer adequately serve road users . The changing climate and the resulting extremer weather conditions also present direct threats to the outdated infrastructures.

That is why we need to redesign, modernise, and change transport to meet future social, economic, and environmental demands- always, in line with climate ambitions . Luckily, mobility can be more sustainable. Greener alternatives to vehicles and fuels, such as electric vehicles, are slowly gaining more and more ground. But, energy transition and modernisation of the transport sector require significant and long-term investments and careful planning.

In 2016, the European Investment Bank and the European Commission launched the Cleaner Transport Facility, which aims to promote cleaner transport vehicles and create crucial infrastructure like charging and refuelling facilities. Under the facility, the Bank financed, for instance, 15 000 electric and hybrid vehicles in several European countries , cleaner buses in France and the Netherlands , and funded the construction of thousands of charging stations for electric vehicles in Italy , Spain and Slovakia

The European Investment Bank also finances individual projects pushing for greener, safer, and more accessible transport around the world . The Bank has supported the integration and decarbonisation of transport in Africa , Asia , and Latin America.

Financing smarter and sustainable innovation

Investments in innovation will help make transport smarter (more digital), cleaner (through cleaner modes like public transport and electric vehicles), and safer (automated transport and support systems like traffic monitoring systems can make travel safer). However, funding has remained highly uneven, with climate tech start-ups and smaller companies often facing huge financing difficulties to enter the market. These constraints are high competition from larger companies, high upfront capital costs, and weak momentum for climate mitigation investment in the sector.

That is why European Investment Bank financing has broadened in recent years beyond larger infrastructure projects to smaller one

Through the EU bank’s new financing vehicles, such as intermediated loans, guarantees, and venture debt, the companies can access affordable financing, achieve competitive pricing, and attract more investors. For example, in 2018, the European Investment Bank signed a €30 million loan to support a French company developing and producing autonomous electric shuttles and taxis.

The Bank enables entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to market and compete on the global stage through initiatives such as Future Mobility , InnovFin , and InvestEU that are supported by the European Commission. For instance, in 2018, the European Investment Bank signed a $350 million loan agreement with Northvolt supporting the construction of Europe’s first giga-factory of lithium batteries. The loan was part of the InnovFin Energy Demonstration Program and a crucial step for the advancement of electric vehicles in Europe. In late 2021, Northvolt’s first production line went into operation. In 2020, the EIB supported a shared mobility platform with a €15 million loan under Future Mobility.

The Bank also offers technical assistance and advisory to help smaller transport companies in securing and accessing crucial financing . Last year, the Bank signed an agreement with Hydrogen Europe that will provide financing advisory support for hydrogen projects and help spur more funding for green hydrogen across Europe.

Closing the gap between the public and private sector 

Infrastructure usually requires large investments in assets designed to operate over the long term.

Traditionally, the public sector has played a key role in financing transport projects. But, as the projects are becoming more complex and expensive, it will be necessary to optimise the use of scarce public resources and mobilise private investment at a larger pace and scale.

The good news is that private investors have an appetite for sustainable investing. The global cash flows in terms of environment, social, and governance assets tripled over eight years, to $40.5 trillion in 2020. But, private investors continue to still face immense obstacles to entering the market.

Bridging the gap between public and private investors will be crucial for the future of transport infrastructure. To attract additional private financing, the European Investment Bank participates in funds like Quaero European Infrastructure Fund II . This way the Bank can participate in projects, which would otherwise struggle to find the required financing.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an important tool to facilitate cooperation between the public and private sector. A European Investment Bank report found that such arrangements allow efficient delivery and a higher quality of infrastructure, as they offer mutual benefits to both sides. While PPPs help access funding, technology, and expertise and reduce the cost and risks of large projects, they simultaneously enable private companies to work on major and lucrative infrastructure projects . For these reasons, the Bank backed eight transport PPPs between 2020 and 2021.

With so many changes underway in transport, the European Investment Bank is revising its Transport Lending Policy, so it can support this green transition towards a truly sustainable transport system- one that is both accessible and efficient, but also green and safe . Many stakeholders contributed to new Transport Lending policy through public consultation .

Down the road

Transport is connected to the most critical issues of our time . It contributes to people’s well-being. It allows access to goods and services necessary for a better quality of life. At the same time, the negative externalities of transport, notably CO 2  emissions, are a growing concern. 

Levelling up mobility and achieving climate ambitions are not exclusive. Investing in greener transport meets growing transport demand and development goals. It also means financing new innovative mobility solutions and technologies that will make transport smarter, greener, safer, and more efficient. It’s time to clean up and modernise our transport!

About the author

Birgitte Keulen

Birgitte Keulen works for the European Investment Bank as climate advisor and coordinator for the Cleaner Transport facility, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the EIB to support the deployment of cleaner transport vehicles and their associated infrastructure needs, such as for charging and refuelling.

Related tags

• infrastructure
• venture debt
• Climate action and environment
• Research, innovation and technology
• Venture capital & equity

Stéphane Petti

Stéphane Petti is a Specialist in Transport technology and Innovation within the Project Directorate of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg. He is involved in the technical and economic appraisal of investment projects in the mobility sector in Europe and globally, from clean technologies (charging or hydrogen infrastructure and electric vehicles) to smart transport infrastructure (digital based mobility services, robotics assets for transport). He also provides advice on various aspects related to future mobility markets and policy.

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• Published: 24 April 2024

Advanced transport systems: the future is sustainable and technology-enabled

• Yue Cao 1 ,
• Sybil Derrible 2 ,
• Michela Le Pira 3 &
• Haiping Du 4  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  9429 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Transport has always played a major role in shaping society. By enabling or restricting the movement of people and goods, the presence or absence of transport services and infrastructure has historically been determining for cultures to connect, for knowledge to be shared, and for societies to evolve and prosper, or, in contrast, for societies to decay and fail. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, transport has been going through a revolution worldwide. One of the primary goals for the transport sector is clear: it needs to be decarbonized and become more sustainable. At the same time, technological advances are shaping the transport sector toward smart services and societies. The Special Collection showcases some of the latest advances in research towards sustainable and technology-enabled transport.

Introduction

The transport sector is fundamental to promoting human development and economic growth. Yet, it is also one of the most impacting and energy-consuming sectors, accounting for a quarter of global energy-related CO 2 emissions 1 . This is largely because oil products still made up more than 90% of the energy used in transport by 2022 2 , 3 . The transport sector is also responsible for many other externalities, from social exclusion to crashes, and it is one of the most cost-intensive sectors in terms of public administration 4 .

Right now, the urgency to decarbonize and make transport more sustainable is clear. This is apparent from the articles published in the Special Collection. On purpose, we (the editors) had kept the call for the Special Collection broad by naming it “Advanced Transportation Systems”, but many submissions directly address the need for the transport sector to reduce its carbon footprint, whether by tackling traffic congestion, by making way for electric vehicles, or by promoting alternative travel modes. The first theme that emerged from the Special Collection is therefore sustainability.

The second theme that emerged from the collection is technology. Most submissions either study a technology or use advanced data science techniques to answer their research questions. This emphasis on technology was expected. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ubiquitous sensing and computing have pervaded virtually every domain, including transport, towards Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). From technology-enabled crowdsourced transit service to autonomous vehicles and freight delivery, the collection sees much promise in technology.

This editorial synthesizes the key topics and findings of the Special Collection “Advanced Transportation Systems” along the two themes found, and it lays the path for future research in transport.

Advances toward technology-enabled transport

The application of AI in transport has been growing significantly. As of this writing, typical use cases include autonomous vehicles, drones delivering packages, and sophisticated systems managing complex logistics delivery networks 1 . One report 5 projected that global AI in the transport market reached $3.5 billion by 2023, an impressive growth rate of 16.5%.

For example, as a fundamental component of autonomous driving systems, environmental perception 6 enables vehicles to comprehend their surroundings and make intelligent decisions based on this perception. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) make wise decisions about speed, direction, and safety by recognizing pedestrians, other vehicles, and traffic signs. This capability is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient road navigation 7 . As another killer application, the usage of drones rapidly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, the Alphabet-owned drone delivery company Wing saw demand for its services double, thanks to the drones bringing contactless ways to access consumer goods 8 .

Digital-twin, federated learning, reinforcement learning, and machine learning have been widely applied in the literature and in this Special Collection, ranging from passenger demand forecasting and the prediction of electricity consumption using traffic volume data 9 to the optimization of traffic signal controls and the evaluation of the pedestrian level of service 10 , 11 , 12 . The debate around the potential of big data analytics is lively, and how/if they will replace traditional transport modelling techniques 13 .

ITS is a holistic system employed in transport management, including information, communication, sensing, electronic control, AI, and computer technologies. ITS provides comprehensive, real-time, accurate, efficient transport and management capabilities to service citizens and operate the city efficiently, such as traffic control, disaster management, and driver monitoring. With the help of ICT and the continuous development of ITS, smart parking has also been upgraded. Compared with traditional parking, smart parking alleviates users from finding available parking spots by notifying users of available spots in advance. Emerging ICT has been integrated with smart parking services, such as using RFID or magnetic sensors to monitor the utilization of parking space, or developing middleware for urban level parking management 14 .

Advances toward sustainable transport

Decarbonization of the transport sector is an important pathway to climate-change mitigation and presents the potential for future lower emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) are regarded as a promising solution to achieve intelligent and green transport. With energy cost decreasing and user experience improving continuously, EVs are gaining significant market share. Considering the numerous advantages of EVs, many governments and large organizations are actively engaged in the process of promoting EV industry development 15 . Driven by these factors, over 6.8 million EVs were sold worldwide in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the then ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the analysis from Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, the number of EVs will reach over 300 million in 2030 and 60% of new car sales will be EVs.

Along with this, there has been substantial research on decarbonization of transport system, such as the work in 16 , 17 , 18 on reduction of vehicle emission, investigating the relationship between electricity consumed at building with travel demand and assessing the impact of on-demand public transit systems considering EVs. Of course, due to the existing drive-by-wire design and in-vehicle system, EVs have more advantages on autonomous technology implementation. Therefore, the application of autonomous EVs is progressively supplanting traditional ICE-based AVs.

Among transport externalities, safety represents one of the big concerns of modern societies. According to the statistic from World Health Organization (WHO) 19 , road traffic crashes result in the deaths of approximately 1.19 million people around the world each year and leave between 20 and 50 million people with non-fatal injuries. More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. This stems from multiple factors, including scarce road maintenance, pointing to the need to plan an ad-hoc planning and scheduling of interventions minimizing road congestion and discomfort 20 . Here, enabling an advanced transportation system is able to alleviate the number and severity of traffic crashes through emerging technologies such as traffic control and traffic operations, crash data collection and analyses, safety information and communication systems and safety policy and planning 12 . Yet, identifying and defining appropriate techniques to study safety remains challenging 21 .

The future of transport research

In the near future, we can see that the two themes present in the Special Collection (i.e.., sustainability and technology) will remain predominant. The threats of climate change are ever present, and they are not expected to lessen. Research efforts will likely continue to study how the transport sector can be decarbonized, notably leveraging technology. EVs and alternative low-carbon transport modes offer some of the best solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector 22 . We therefore expect many more research studies to come out that will study the impact of electrifying vehicles both on the transport and the electricity sectors. Besides, due the increasing concerning on cyber-attacks on road infrastructures and automobile, resilience in transport remains a critical topic as well, both on the physical asset such as road resilience as well as cyber-resilience which will likely get more attention as connected and autonomous vehicles become more popular.

Finally, issues related to inequity and social and environmental justice in transport will likely get more attention as they have in other domains. Sustainability issues can be tackled by leveraging on new flexible transport services, which are undoubtedly enabled by technology. The idea to have integrated and multimodal transport systems, accessible by users on-demand and according to their heterogeneous preferences is something that has driven research—more at a theoretical level than a practical one—toward the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Despite many uncertainties, considering the role that transport plays in society, what is certain is that much more research is needed, making transport research a rich, multidisciplinary and constantly evolving field.

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Navigating a Greener Future: Highly Sustainable Transportation Systems

• August 8, 2023
• Sustainable Transportation

In an era marked by growing environmental concerns and the need for reducing carbon emissions, the development of highly sustainable transportation systems has emerged as a crucial aspect of global sustainability efforts. This article delves into the innovative approaches and exemplary practices adopted by some of the world’s most advanced and eco-conscious cities in their pursuit of creating highly sustainable transportation networks. From cutting-edge technologies to community engagement, these systems showcase a blueprint for a greener and more efficient future.

1.Integrating Efficient Public Transit:

Efficient public transportation systems are the backbone of sustainable urban mobility. Cities like Copenhagen and Tokyo have invested in extensive and well-connected networks of buses, trains, and trams. The seamless integration of these modes encourages a shift away from private cars, reducing congestion and carbon emissions.

2.Prioritizing Active Transportation:

Promotion of active transportation modes such as cycling and walking is a hallmark of a sustainable transport system. Cities like Amsterdam and Portland have invested in dedicated cycling lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. These efforts not only reduce pollution but also promote healthier lifestyles.

3.Electrification of Transport:

Transitioning from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to electric ones is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Cities like Oslo and Shenzhen have adopted ambitious plans to electrify public transport fleets, greatly minimizing air pollution and noise while showcasing the potential of electric mobility.

4.Innovations in Shared Mobility:

Shared mobility services like ride-sharing and carpooling contribute to reducing the number of vehicles on the road. With the rise of platforms like BlaBlaCar and Lyft Line, commuters have options beyond individual car ownership, leading to decreased congestion and emissions.

5.Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS):

Smart technologies play a crucial role in optimizing transportation systems. Cities like Singapore have implemented ITS to manage traffic flow, minimize congestion, and reduce fuel consumption. These systems use real-time data and predictive analytics to make transportation more efficient.

6.Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure:

The development of sustainable transport systems relies heavily on well-designed infrastructure. Cities like Curitiba and Bogotá have embraced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that mimic subway efficiency at a fraction of the cost. These systems prioritize high-capacity vehicles, segregated lanes, and efficient stations.

7.Encouraging Behavior Change:

Efforts to create sustainable transportation systems often involve changing commuter behaviors. Cities employ tactics like congestion pricing, promoting car-free days, and offering incentives for using public transport to encourage people to adopt greener travel habits.

we can conclude this, As cities around the world grapple with the challenges of urbanization and environmental degradation, the implementation of highly sustainable transportation systems emerges as a beacon of hope. By integrating efficient public transit, promoting active transportation, electrifying fleets, embracing shared mobility, leveraging intelligent transport systems, and investing in sustainable infrastructure, these cities demonstrate that a greener future is not only possible but also within our grasp. The lessons and innovations from these pioneers serve as inspiration for other urban centers striving to navigate a more sustainable path forward.

1.What are highly sustainable transportation systems?

Highly sustainable transportation systems are those that prioritize environmentally friendly and efficient modes of travel while minimizing their impact on the planet. These systems encompass a range of strategies, from promoting public transit and active transportation to electrifying vehicle fleets and leveraging smart technologies to optimize traffic flow.

2.How do cities encourage people to use public transport over private cars?

Cities encourage the use of public transport by creating well-connected networks of buses, trains, and trams that provide convenient and reliable options for commuters. They also implement measures like congestion pricing, car-free days, and offering incentives such as discounted fares or loyalty programs to motivate people to choose public transport over private cars.

3.What role do electric vehicles play in sustainable transportation systems?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a pivotal component of sustainable transportation systems as they significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution compared to traditional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Cities that invest in EV infrastructure, such as charging stations and incentives for EV adoption, contribute to cleaner air and a lower carbon footprint.

4.How do intelligent transport systems (ITS) contribute to sustainability?

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) use technology and data to optimize traffic management, reduce congestion, and enhance the efficiency of transportation networks. By utilizing real-time data and predictive analytics, cities can improve traffic flow, reduce fuel consumption, and ultimately create more sustainable and streamlined transportation systems.

5.What can individuals do to support sustainable transportation?

Individuals can contribute to sustainable transportation by opting for active modes of travel such as cycling and walking for shorter distances. They can also use public transportation, carpooling, or ride-sharing services instead of relying solely on private cars. Additionally, adopting energy-efficient vehicles, reducing unnecessary trips, and supporting policies that promote sustainable transportation can make a significant difference.

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Sustainable Transport, Sustainable Development: Interagency report for second Global Sustainable Transport Conference

New and emerging technologies, from electric cars and buses to zero-carbon producing energy sources, as well as policy innovations, are critical for combating climate change, but to be effective, they must ensure that transport strategies benefit everyone, including the poorest, according to a new United Nations multi-agency report launched today that provides a guide to achieving sustainable transport.

According to the new report, there is urgent need for transformative action that will accelerate the transition to sustainable transport globally. Transport solutions exist that can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, although the report cautions that without the right policies and investments, they will not bring change to where it is needed most, particularly to people in developing countries.

The report, launched just before the second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference begins in Beijing, China, on 14 October, was prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in close collaboration with 14 other UN agencies.

“Innovations, driven by new technologies, evolving consumer preferences and supportive policy making, are changing the transport landscape,” says Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in the report’s forward. “While they hold tremendous potential for hastening the transformation to sustainability, they also come with the risk that they could further entrench inequalities, impose constraints on countries in special situations, or present additional challenges for the environment.”

Change in transport key for climate action

The world is well off course in efforts to limit climate change to 1.5°C. With 95 per cent of the world's transport energy still coming from burning fossil fuels, the transport sector produces a quarter of all energy-related emissions—and without major changes, are expected to increase.

The increasing emissions and rising temperatures are causing more extreme weather events, which in turn are also highly disruptive to transportation and transportation infrastructure.  And it will take significant investments to ensure that transport infrastructure is upgraded to become climate resilient. A recent study found that the cost of adapting 53 ports in the Asia-Pacific region could range from $31 to $49 billion.

However, the World Bank estimates suggest that the overall net benefits of investing in resilient infrastructure in developing countries could amount to $4.2 trillion over the lifetime of new infrastructure—a $4 benefit for every dollar invested in resilience.

A low-carbon pandemic recovery could decrease expected emissions in 2030 by 25 per cent, particularly as a result of changes in the shipping, aviation and lifestyle sectors.

Transport critical for moving out of poverty

But at the same time, more than 120 million people were pushed into extreme poverty across the world in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a billion people still lack access to an all‑weather road, and only about half the world’s urban population have convenient access to public transport. In Africa, about 450 million people, or more than 70 per cent of its total rural population, are estimated to still be unconnected to transport infrastructure and systems.

A lack of access to roads and transport contributes to deprivation in terms of access to timely health care, education, jobs and markets for agricultural produce. Rural isolation disproportionately harms the poor, older persons, persons with disabilities, children and women. Women and girls can face additional challenges when there are concerns about their physical safety.

Transport is especially costly for many of the world’s least developed countries, particularly those that are landlocked, and small island developing countries. Customs and border-crossing procedures, as well as long and often circuitous transit routes, mean that, from order to delivery, it takes landlocked-least developed countries nearly twice as long to import and export goods than others and have a higher average cost of export—$3,444 per container, than transit countries. In addition, landlocked least developed countries would need to construct almost 200,000 km of paved roads and 46,000 km of railway, at a cost of about $500 billion, equivalent to an average of around 2 per cent of GDP over a period of 20 years to catch up with transport accessibility in the rest of the world.

Road traffic injuries kill 1.3 million a year

Road traffic accidents are estimated to become fifth leading cause of death by 2030 and road traffic crashes killed about 1.3 million people worldwide in 2019, with 75 per cent of  deaths among boys and men. Road traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–29 worldwide.

More than half the global road traffic deaths are among pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. In addition, between 20 and 50 million non-fatal injuries yearly are caused by road traffic crashes. The death rate was over 3.5 times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries, despite lower rates of vehicle ownership in developing countries.

Many local governments are taking steps to redesign streets and build more pedestrian and bicycle friendly public spaces. Data from developed regions show that there was a small increase in the adoption of active modes of transport in cities, especially bicycling, in response to the pandemic. Since 2020, many cities have built more bicycle lanes.

Innovative technologies and solutions

New innovative technologies, the report says, when appropriately applied, are key to solving many of the challenges to achieving sustainable transport. The deployment of existing solutions, such as low or zero-carbon vehicles, automated safety, and intelligent transport systems, must be accelerated. These must be accompanied by the creation of new fuel, power, and digital infrastructures, including, for example, high-speed battery charging, while mitigating any harmful consequences.

Continuing with business-as-usual transport approaches will not accommodate the sharp demographic changes that are forecast. By 2030, annual passenger traffic will exceed 80 trillion passenger-kilometres—a 50 per cent increase over 2015 estimates, putting an additional 1.2 billion cars on the roads by 2030. In the absence of transformative change towards sustainable transport, could mean rising emissions, increasing air and noise pollution, and worsening trends in road safety.

Governments and international bodies need to provide the regulations, policies and incentives to accelerate the development and deployment of new transport technologies, including digital applications, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

The report also found that there is a need for standards and targets, such as for accelerating the phase-in of low-emissions technology accompanied by a winding down and phasing-out of deployment of fossil fuel-powered options.

“The clock is ticking on our 2030 timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and for meeting the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” Mr. Liu said. “The forthcoming second Global Sustainable Transport Conference will be a landmark moment for stakeholders from across the world to discuss challenges and opportunities, good practices and solutions.”

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Sustainable Transport: A Systematic Literature Review

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• João Reis   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8504-0065 13 , 14 ,
• Joana Costa   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7514-9836 15 ,
• Pedro Marques   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-0249 13 , 14 ,
• Francisco Silva Pinto   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2016-3603 13 , 14 &
• Ricardo J. G. Mateus   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3630-6426 13 , 14  

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Sustainable transport research includes a range of real-life issues related to low-carbon/carbon-neutral mobility. To our knowledge, sustainable transport offers an interdisciplinary approach, where relevant solutions are developed, such as in the environmental, industrial and energy areas. As the research areas in transport are vast, in this paper we present the key concepts with the greatest potential for growth within the academic community. The disclosure of key concepts may enable researchers to justify their options in sustainable transport, deepen their knowledge and move forward with their research. To do so, this paper performs a systematic literature review using PRISMA statement. The research findings identified six dimensions and focused on electromobility, micromobility and intermodal transport, which have played a pivotal role in sustainable transport. The need to deepen knowledge on the aforementioned topics should be considered timely, as it can influence the mitigation of climate risk and can have positive implications in the operationalization of the dynamics of cities.

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Reis, J., Costa, J., Marques, P., Pinto, F.S., Mateus, R.J.G. (2024). Sustainable Transport: A Systematic Literature Review. In: Silva, F.J.G., Pereira, A.B., Campilho, R.D.S.G. (eds) Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: Establishing Bridges for More Sustainable Manufacturing Systems. FAIM 2023. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38241-3_98

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• A/70/472 - Sustainable development: report of the Second Committee [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/RES/69/213 - Role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish] Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2014
• A/RES/72/212 - Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• Issues briefs prepared by the Technical Working Group for information of the Secretary-Generals' High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport
• The UN SGs High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport Position Paper on Financing Sustainable Transport

Embrace innovation ‘to make sustainable transport a reality for all’

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Reducing the transport sector’s impact on the environment while improving access to service, especially in developing countries, topped the agenda of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.  

Opening its High-level Meeting on Sustainable Transport , Assembly President Dennis Francis urged countries to seize the opportunity to shape a green, inclusive and prosperous future for today and generations to come. 

“ From public transport to maritime transport, we must embrace innovation-driven approaches – to make sustainable transport a reality for all,” he said . 

Ensure equal access 

He stressed that with over one billion people, roughly one-eighth of the planet, lacking access to all-weather roads, “our foremost priority must be to ensure equal access to sustainable transport, particularly for countries in special situations and vulnerable communities.” 

He drew attention to Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States, and Least Developed Countries and the obstacles to sustainability they face, such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of maintenance capabilities and impaired resilience to climate change. 

Negatives and positives 

Mr. Francis urged governments to embrace innovation-driven approaches to make sustainable transport a reality, which also includes honestly confronting negative impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, a rise in road traffic accidents and exorbitant maritime logistics costs. 

At the same time, the myriad benefits should not be overlooked, he added. 

“Consider, for instance, how improving access to sustainable transport can considerably enhance school enrolment rates , especially amongst the most impoverished and vulnerable – including girls and economically disadvantaged learners, in far-flung rural and remote areas plagued by unreliable and costly forms of transportation.” 

Running on fossil fuels 

In an increasingly interconnected world, transport and mobility can change lives for the better, said the head of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua. 

However, fossil fuel use still dominates the sector.  More than 95 per cent of its energy comes from petroleum products , and transport also accounts for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

“Other pollutants from transport, most obviously in cities, directly impact the health of people . Increasing efficiency, reducing fossil fuel use, and investing in public transport must be at the top of our transport actions,” he said. 

Last year, the UN General Assembly declared 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day in a resolution put forward by Turkmenistan. 

Effective and sustainable transport 

Batyr Annayev, Minister and Chairman with the Agency for Transport and Communications, spoke of projects both at home and in conjunction with other countries. 

They include modernizing the national railway infrastructure, building highways, and establishing transport corridors with countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan to support international trade, economic development and growth in the region.  

“All these initiatives really show that we have a comprehensive sustainable approach to developing our transport systems in Turkmenistan. We're striving not only to be effective, but also to have a sustainable, responsible future,” he said. 

The High-level Meeting on sustainable transport is part of the UN General Assembly’s first-ever Sustainability Week , which runs through Friday. Other issues being discussed include debt sustainability and socioeconomic equality, tourism, and energy. 

• General Assembly
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — United Kingdom — Sustainable transport across the EU and UK

Sustainable Transport Across The EU and UK

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Words: 1969 |

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Published: Jun 6, 2019

Words: 1969 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, sustainable transport proposals, sustainable transport in the eu, sustainable transport in uk.

• Cycling should be a co-equal form on transport
• Increase cycling by 50% across all member states by 2030
• Reduce rates in incidents that results in the deaths or injuries across member by half by 2030
• Increase investments in “cycling to €3bn in 2021-27 period; and €6bn from 2028-34” (European Cyclist Federation, 2017).
• 24% of all trips under 5km in Denmark are via cycling
• 45% of Danish children bike to school
• 44% of Danes do not possess a car

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