World Sustainable Transport Day

In 2023, the General Assembly declared the first ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026. While there is no single dedicated Sustainable Development Goal for transport, it is reflected in several SDG targets and recognized as an enabler for achieving many of the goals. Both the political appreciation of sustainable transport as well as our scientific understanding of transport’s linkages , both synergies and trade-offs, with issues such as resilient infrastructure development, food security, economic growth, trade, global supply chains, promotion of health, energy efficiency and tackling of climate change have greatly improved in the last years. The United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport will be an opportunity to further raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and to gather and rally new solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally. Through the resolution A/7...

  Launch of Decade of Sustainable Transport , 10 December 2025, UNHQ New York In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly declared the first ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026. The launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport will consist of an opening, a high-level segment, showcase of voluntary commitments, and an interactive multi-stakeholder roundtable. It will launch the Implementation Plan, which was developed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the Regional Commissions and in consultation with Member States , the UN system and all other relevant stakeholders . The meeting will be open to all those in possession of valid UN Grounds Passes for the UNHQ in New York, up to the capacity of the Conference room. Representatives without a valid UN Grounds Pass could register to request Special Event Ticket through here before 2 December 2025.

Sustainable transport seeks to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts, while ensuring safety and affordability and providing equitable access to mobility for all. Sustainable transport integrates technology, infrastructure, planning, policy and behavior change. The transport sector is responsible for 13.7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making its transformation urgent for tackling climate change. Sustainable transport provides many benefits including economic stability, improved public health, energy security and urban resilience. Countries are embedding transport decarbonization efforts into broader climate, energy and infrastructure national plans. Challenges to advancing sustainable transport include policy and regulatory gaps, high dependence on fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies, and technology and data constraints

Sustainable transport refers to mobility systems that seek to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts, while ensuring safety and affordability, improving energy and resource efficiency, and providing equitable access to mobility for all . This includes everything from walking and cycling networks to electric road transport powered by renewables to enhanced public mobility and the adoption of clean fuels for shipping and aviation. Improvements in efficiency, land use and system design are also a critical component of making transport more sustainable. Crucially, sustainable transport is not a single solution, but a systems approach , integrating technology, infrastructure, planning, policy and behavior change to reduce emissions while enhancing connectivity. When designed well, sustainable transport systems simultaneously support health, economic opportunity and environmental protection. This holistic vision applies across all modes and geographies, making trans...

On land, sustainable transport includes shifting from private vehicle use to low-emission public transport, such as battery electric buses and rail systems powered by renewable electricity, alongside safe and inclusive infrastructure for walking and cycling.  These systems are supported by city planning, integrated ticketing for multiple modes of transport and digital mobility tools that improve service quality and reduce traffic congestion. For freight transport , sustainable mobility means modernizing logistics networks, expanding multi-modal cargo options such as rail and inland waterway , and electrifying or optimizing last-mile delivery systems to reduce fuel use and pollution. In the maritime sector, sustainable transport involves transitioning to renewable fuels such as biofuels and synthetic e-fuels, improving vessel design and operations to be more energy efficient, using shore power for ships while docked, decarbonizing port infrastructure and piloting battery-elect...

The transport sector is responsible for 13.7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions , making its transformation urgent for tackling climate change and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement . When it comes to personal vehicles, this transformation has started accelerating in recent years . Electric cars represented more than 20 percent of all cars sold in 2024, with this figure expected to reach 25 percent – 20 million vehicles – in 2025. Public charging stations have also doubled in the past 2 years in response to this growth. When coupled with advancements in renewable energy , these developments can help cut down emissions from the transport sector . At the same time, decarbonizing the transport sector also addresses several public health crises. Air pollution contributes to 6.7 million premature deaths annually , mostly in low- and middle-income countries, while noise pollution adversely impacts the well-being and quality of life of urban residents. In addition, road traf...

Countries around the world are increasingly integrating transport into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) as they work to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. These commitments reflect a growing recognition that decarbonizing transport is essential to reducing emissions and achieving broader development goals. National plans and strategies typically include a combination of measures, such as: Electrifying public and private vehicle fleets ; Investing in mass transit systems , including electric buses and charging infrastructure; Expanding walking and cycling networks; Adopting biofuels and clean energy for freight, aviation and maritime transport; Developing comprehensive transport master plans and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs); Carrying out feasibility and market opportunity studies to support sustainable transport transitions ; Introducing incentives for electric two- and three-wheelers and of...

UNDP supports countries in transitioning towards sustainable transport through policy reform, capacity building, technology demonstrations and financial solutions. While a significant portion of UNDP’s work to date has focused on public transport systems, it also supports broader efforts across the transport value chain , including the electrification of smaller vehicles , infrastructure planning and institutional reform. In addition, UNDP focuses on developing enabling environments by supporting national transport master plans and sustainable urban mobility plans , strengthening policy and legal frameworks, and enhancing institutional capacity for inclusive and integrated mobility planning. UNDP also collaborates with governments, the private sector and financial institutions to unlock climate finance , support green procurement and promote circular economy models . In Uruguay, UNDP is supporting one of the world’s most advanced sustainable transport transitions. Building on a suc...

  Every year on 26 November , World Sustainable Transport Day recognizes the essential role of safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems in advancing economic growth, promoting social welfare and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Through its resolution A/RES/77/286, adopted in May 2023, the United Nations General Assembly invites Member States, the UN system, regional and international organizations, and civil society to commemorate the Day through education and awareness-raising activities dedicated to sustainable transport. As the international community prepares to launch the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) , this Day takes on renewed significance. The Decade will be an opportunity to further raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and to gather new solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally. For the Asia–Pacific region, the Day is also a mom...

  Two-wheeled transport in megacities (provided the climate allows it) is a way of avoiding traffic jams, which significantly reduces both emissions and travel time. In many, even small settlements around the world, more and more universal charging stations are appearing, where electric scooters, mopeds and motorcycles can also be “refuelled”. New developments, modern materials and even their own fashion trends: it is sometimes hard to keep up with the motorcycle industry. Analysts cite figures and call them a new absolute record: in 2024, global motorcycle sales reached 61.8 million units. Demand is growing year by year; among the leading producers of such transport are traditionally Japan, Germany, India, China, and the United States.

The journey is neither short nor easy, as, according to the United Nations, more than half of the world’s population today lives in cities. These, together with megacities generate more than 60 % of global GDP but also account collectively for more than 70ù of global carbon emissions. This issue is addressed in SDG 11 – “Sustainable Cities and Communities” . To help achieve it, different states join together in international cooperation. In 2025, during Brazil’s presidency of the group, experts from BRICS countries discussed at meetings of the relevant working group the development of sustainable transport infrastructure and urban mobility. In particular, Brazil is actively promoting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and has already launched a plant for the production of synthetic oil required for SAF. The basis of such fuel is raw material from renewable biological sources (cooking grease, agricultural waste). Compared to fossil fuels, SAF in its pure form reduces carbon em...