Action Area:

TRANSPORTATION

The tramway service between Rabat and Salé – World Bank/ Arne Hoel

The Issue Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase under a ‘business as usual’ scenario by nearly 50 per cent by 2030 and more than 80 per cent by 2050, compared with year-end 2009. This increase in emissions will be primarily caused by a projected surge in the global stock of vehicles. Already in 2009, transport contributed approximately onequarter of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions and was responsible for about one-fifth of energy use. Measures that reduce the demand for travel, including compact city planning combined with the large-scale expansion of public transport systems; improvements in energy-efficient transportation systems; along with the promotion of non-motorised transport, could save Governments, companies and individuals up to $70 trillion by 2050 as less money would need to be invested in vehicles, fuel and transportation infrastructure.

Action Plan Governments, transport companies and associations, other private sector players and civil society organizations are planning bold action to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by expanding the use of public transportation, greater use of more efficient rail transportation, and the accelerated introduction of urban electric transport.

Already in 2009, transport was responsible for about one-fifth of energy use.

Deliverables The Urban Electric Mobility Vehicles Initiative (UEMI) This initiative aims to reduce dependency on vehicles by using conventional sources of fuel and increasing the global market share of electric vehicles in cities to at least 30% by 2030. This would achieve a 30 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions in urban areas by 2050.

The International Union of Railways (UIC) Low-Carbon Sustainable Rail Transport Challenge This initiative will reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable transportation by combining improvements in rail sector energy efficiency with an expansion of rail’s share of transport activity. The initiative has set targets based on the International Energy Agency’s analysis of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recommended two-degree scenario. By 2050, the rail sector aims to achieve three goals: a 75 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions (1990 average value relative baseline); a doubling of rail’s share of passenger transportation (1990 baseline); and rail freight use exceeding road freight volumes by 50 per cent. Partnerships will be developed with transportation authorities to support this modal shift and progress will be supported with a robust system of monitoring verification and reporting.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Declaration on Climate Leadership Cities will face increasing traffic gridlock and pollution levels with projected increases in private motor vehicles. Through this initiative, UITP members are making a voluntary commitment to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen climate resilience within their cities and regions. The association’s goal is to double the market share of public transport use around the world by 2025 – a massive shift to public transport which would prevent the emission of half a billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the year 2025.

Find out more at:

www.un.org/climatechange/summit

For more information on contributing to this Action Area contact:

Juwang Zhu Chief, Small Island Developing States, Oceans and Climate Branch Division for Sustainable Development UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs [email protected]

Mohammad Reza Salamat Senior Sustainable Development Officer Division for Sustainable Development UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs [email protected]

Tracy Raczek UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team Office of the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Strategic Planning [email protected]