UN adopts global decarboniation strategy in road, rail, waterway transport
UN member States advanced significantly towards sustainable, low-carbon mobility with the recent adoption of the Inland Transport Committee’s (ITC) Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland Transport.
Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of The Netherlands, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating that “What we do today will shape the future of transport.”
Transport constitutes approximately 23% of annual greenhouse gas emissions, with inland transport contributing 72% of this total, predominantly from road transport.
Moreover, projections indicate a 79% increase in passenger transport demand and a 100% increase in freight transport demand by 2050. Harbers stressed the urgency for rapid and ambitious climate action within the inland transport sector due to its substantial carbon emissions.
The strategy aims to revolutionize the global approach to inland transport and chart a medium- and long-term trajectory toward carbon neutrality by 2050, leveraging the 61 United Nations legal instruments under ITC’s purview.
Harbers highlighted the importance of a just transition to clean transport and commended ITC’s efforts in establishing quality standards for the import and export of used vehicles.
Tatiana Molcean, UNECE Executive Secretary, underscored the significance of the strategy, noting that it will aid countries in fulfilling their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, marking a crucial milestone in climate action.
The strategy’s objectives focus on assisting member States and Contracting Parties to United Nations legal instruments under its purview in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from inland transport by 2050.
It prioritizes public transport, cycling, and walking for passenger transport, promotes new approaches to urban freight solutions, and aims to enhance vehicles, infrastructure, and operations efficiency.
Implementation will involve an initial ITC Climate Action Plan with milestones, guiding efforts to achieve climate goals and priorities, such as developing a globally harmonized methodology for determining vehicle carbon footprints and elaborating policy solutions for Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
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The strategy recognizes the pivotal role of UN inland transport instruments in improving transport sustainability and addressing climate change. These instruments facilitate modal shifts, promote multimodal transport, and enable the adoption of alternative fuel sources. Additionally, efforts are underway to regulate the climate impact of used vehicle exports, particularly in developing and transitional countries.
