By Obiabin Onukwugha
The UN General Assembly (UNGA), at its 77th session in May 2023, declared 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day.
The day was declared after the UNGA adopted the resolution to designate a UN World Sustainable Transport Day. The resolution followed IRU’s initial proposal to have a dedicated World Transport Day.
The day is in recognition of the important role of safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all in supporting sustainable economic growth, improving the social welfare of people, and enhancing international cooperation and trade among countries.
The day also highlights the importance of sustainable transport, with its objectives of universal access, reduced climate and environmental impact, improved resilience, and enhanced safety and efficiency, in achieving sustainable development.
According to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP, sustainable transport is a cross-cutting accelerator that can fast-track progress towards other SDGs, including eradicating poverty, empowering women, and reducing inequality.
In its resolution, the UNGA invited all UN member states and organisations, international and regional organisations, and civil society to mark the day by educating and holding events aimed at enhancing the public’s knowledge of sustainable transport issues.
The 2025 celebration focuses on “Driving the Shift Towards Greener Transportation,” building on the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport.
The UNDP Climate Solutions notes that the transport sector is responsible for 13.7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making its transformation urgent for tackling climate change.
Countries are embedding transport decarbonization efforts into broader climate, energy and infrastructure national plans.
It said challenges to advancing sustainable transport include policy and regulatory gaps, high dependence on fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies, and technology and data constraints.
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-electric vessels for short-distance routes.
Modern wind technologies – including rotor sails, suction wings and automated kites – are also playing a growing role by harnessing wind power to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, particularly for long-distance shipping.
In aviation, the focus is on scaling up sustainable aviation fuels, improving aircraft efficiency, optimizing flight paths – where even small route adjustments can lead to significant fuel and emissions savings – and exploring electric or hydrogen propulsion for short-haul routes.
