The Issue
Only 10% of the Nationally Determined Contributions include a transport CO2 reduction target.
Transport is critical for climate change mitigation
Almost a quarter (23%) of energy-related CO2 stems from transport activity. With transport demand growing, it could reach a share of 40% in twenty years’ time. Decarbonising transport is difficult as it is still 92% dependent on oil. It is thus urgent to raise ambitions for reducing transport CO2. Creating business cases for transport decarbonisation will increase buy-in from the private sector, boosting both decarbonisation efforts and economic growth.
Transport policies are often excluded in climate change policy processes
Only 80% of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement mention transport as relevant for CO2 mitigation, yet only 60% evoke transport-related measures. Not more than 10% of NDCs set a transport CO2 reduction target. The transport policy challenges in the context of climate change are complex. They require co-operation and collaboration among and within sectors, among countries across different levels of government and among public agencies. Transport ministers can play a critical role in advancing national climate goals within the Paris Agreement in ways that reflect the transport and climate challenge.
This policy brief, How to Better Reflect Transport in Climate Action Efforts, addresses how to streamline transport considerations it into the climate change policy process.