‍During the Transport Thematic Day of the UN Climate Change Conference COP23, the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate platform (PPMC) launched a new report which revealed progress made under the Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action Transport Initiatives: Second Progress Report (“Report”). The Report gives an overview of 21 voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives on sustainable, low carbon transport.[1]

Moreover, the PPMC introduced its Key Messages on Transport and Climate Change for COP23 [2], emphasizing the role of transport in the implementation of the Paris Agreement:

1. Action on low carbon transport supports eight of the Sustainable Development Goals;
2. Sustainable transport will be essential for countries to deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions;
3. Decarbonization of all modes of transport by 2050 is possible, but action is needed now;
4. Innovative solutions have the potential to transform current transport systems into efficient, low carbon people-orientated solutions;
5. Investments in sustainable, low carbon, resilient transport offer great value for money;
6. The global transport community stands ready to support countries, cities and companies action on climate change and development.

In addition, a new Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDA) has been announced.[3] France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Costa Rica and the PPMC acknowledged that transport contributes to about one quarter of all energy related CO2 emissions, however UNFCC Parties do not pay enough attention to the transformation to a low carbon transport system. “More ambitious and coordinated action on transport is required to deliver on the Paris Agreement,” said José Mendes, Deputy Minister for Environment of Portugal. Although most of the national pledges recognize transport as a significant source of greenhouse gas emission, proposed emissions reductions fall short of what is needed. Against this backdrop, the TDA is envisaged to be a multi-stakeholder alliance consisting of countries, cities – regions, and private sector companies that are committed to ambitious action on transport and climate change.[4]

Addressing specific aspects of transport and climate change, six new voluntary sector initiatives were also introduced during the UN Climate Change Conference COP23: below50 (brings together companies and organizations who commit to growing the global market for the world’s most sustainable fuels), EcoMobility Alliance (promotes EcoMobility internationally), EV100 (accelerates the transition to electro mobility), Walk 21 (supports and promotes walking to help make walking an enjoyable part of daily transport, recreation and health through effective policies, programmes and planning all over the world), Global Strategy for Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles (seeks to eliminate fine particle and black carbon emissions from new and existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines through the introduction of low sulfur fuels, and vehicle emission standards), Transforming Urban Mobility Initiative (accelerates implementation of sustainable urban transport development).[5]

The gLAWcal Team

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[1] PPMC (2017). Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA) Transport Initiatives: Stock-take on action toward implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Second Progress Report. Available at: http://www.ppmc-transport.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-MPGCA-Transport-Initiatives-Report_Final.pdf.

[2] PPMC (2017). PPMC launches Key Messages on Transport and Climate Change for COP23. Available at:  http://www.ppmc-transport.org/ppmc-just-launched-key-messages/

[3] In a major new partnership of France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Costa Rica and the PPMC.

[4] UNFCCC (2017), New Transport Decarbonisation Alliance for Faster Climate Action. Available at: https://cop23.unfccc.int/news/new-transport-decarbonisation-alliance-for-faster-climate-action.

[5] UNFCCC (2017), New Transport Decarbonisation Alliance for Faster Climate Action. Available at: https://cop23.unfccc.int/news/new-transport-decarbonisation-alliance-for-faster-climate-action.