Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

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/78/148 titled “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” the Member States also requested the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to develop an Implementation Plan for the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, in collaboration with the UN Regional Commissions and in consultation with the Member States, the United Nations system and all other relevant stakeholders.

The Implementation Plan for the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport will be a critical tool in steering global efforts towards sustainable, inclusive, and resilient transportation systems. By fostering collaboration, mobilizing resources, and ensuring effective monitoring, the plan can shine a light on the critical importance of sustainable transport, contribute significantly to its achievement and to the attainment of several of the SDGs.

The Implementation Plan of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport is expected to serve as a strategic framework to coordinate actions, mobilize resources, and monitor progress towards sustainable transport worldwide. The Implementation Plan is expected to be global and non-binding in nature, allowing for more detailed regional, national and local plans, strategies and ways of collaboration, as suitable.

At best, the Implementation Plan can provide a roadmap for accelerating the steps towards sustainable transport during the Decade, enhance coordination and collaboration among member States and other stakeholders, mobilize resources for sustainable transport projects at all levels, and increase awareness and capacity building on sustainable transport practices.

The Implementation Plan can also provide global visibility for sustainable transport in SDG discussions and allow for improved monitoring and evaluation of progress towards sustainable transport goals and on transport’s contributions towards the SDGs.


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