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Forum: Special Conference on Climate Action (SPECON)

Issue: Promoting Green Transportation to reduce Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

Student Officer: Niki Ktistaki

Position: Deputy President

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Dear Delegates,

My name is Niki Ktistaki, I am 17 years old and I attend Costeas-Geitonas School. I am

really excited and honored to be serving as a Deputy President in the Special

Conference on Climate Action (SPECON) of the 10th PSMUN. This will be my fourth

time as a Student Officer, and even though the circumstances are unusual, I believe

that we are both going to have a great conference and a great time.

All the four topics that are going to be discussed and debated upon during the

conference are really interesting and crucial, and need imminent solutions. I hope that

this study guide will prove really helpful for you, in order to better understand the

topic of Promoting Green Transportation to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

However, I would like to remind you, that although this study guide is an important

tool for you, both before and during the conference, you are encouraged to conduct

further personal research on the topic.

I understand that you may face difficulties while researching on the topic or have any

questions in regards to the Study Guide. I am always at your disposal if you need any

help, so don’t hesitate to contact me; my email address is nikiktistaki@gmail.com

Best regards,

Niki Ktistaki

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TOPIC INTRODUCTION

Transportation has always played a major role in everyday life and over the centuries

it has facilitated many of its aspects. From ancient times, there has always been a way

designated to transport people, animals and goods from one place to another.

Nowadays, no one would be able to imagine life, without access to numerous methods

of transportation mankind has manufactured and made widely available.

Transport not only enables the communication between people, but it is also crucial

for the economic development of each society. It is of paramount significance, as it

provides companies with ways to transfer their products/goods and materials around

the world, thus promoting trade and strengthening both national and international

economies.

The employment sector has also benefited, as the creation of more methods of

transportation requires more people and advancements in professions (i.e.,

mechanical engineers, drivers, pilots, delivery services etc.). Every aspect of society is

somehow connected to the transportation sector and thus each and every one of us

depends on transport to complete even the smallest task of the day.

Even though transportation can have a positive impact on our everyday lives, this is

heavily outweighed by its implications on both the environment and humans. It

accounts for air pollution, as greenhouse gases are emitted, especially CO2, thus

aggravating the climate change phenomenon. Furthermore, it causes environmental

degradation, and has many health implications (physical and mental) on humans.

Specifically, the transportation sector is responsible for 23% of the world’s greenhouse

gas emissions.

Hence, we can all understand the importance of finding alternative methods for

transportation, which could ease the strain that the pre-existing ones have had thus

far on the planet.

Taking everything into consideration, one would agree that green transportation is

essential for the resolution of such an issue. It offers a quick, easy and affordable way

of transporting, that is eco-friendly and facilitates both our needs and those of the

environment.

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KEY TERMS

Green Transportation

Any sort of transportation practice or vehicle that does not emit toxic gases and thus,

doesn’t have any negative impact on the environment and the human health.

Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gas is any gas that has the ability of absorbing infrared radiation (net heat

energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiating it back to Earth’s surface, thus

contributing to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor comprise

the most important group of greenhouse gases. 1

Climate Change

Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a

place. It could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole and it may cause weather

patterns to be less predictable.2

Sustainable transport

According to the United Nations, sustainable transport is the provision of services and

infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods— advancing economic and social

development to benefit today’s and future generations—in a manner that is safe,

affordable, accessible, efficient, and resilient, while minimizing carbon and other

emissions and environmental impacts.3

Ecological footprint

Ecological footprint is a method promoted by the Global Footprint Network of

measuring humans’ dependence on natural resources by calculating how much of the

environment is needed to sustain a particular lifestyle. It measures the demand vs. the

supply that can be provided by nature.4

1 Mann, Michael E. “Greenhouse Gas.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas. 2 “Climate Change.” National Geographic Society, 27 Mar. 2019,

www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-change/#:~:text=Climate%20change%20is%20the%20long,the%20planet%20as%20a%20whole.&text=Burning%20these%20materials%20releases%20what%20are%20called%20greenhouse%20gases%20into%20Earth's%20atmosphere. 3 “Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development .” United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level

Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=2375&menu=1515#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20United%20Nations%20Secretary,economic%20growth%2C%20and%20bolster%20the 4 Lim, Alane. “What Is Ecological Footprint? Definition and How to Calculate It.” Treehugger, 26 Oct.

2020, www.treehugger.com/what-is-ecological-footprint-4580244.

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Diesel vehicle

Diesel is a common transportation fuel. Diesel vehicles are similar to gasoline ones because

they both use internal combustion engines. However, diesel engines have a compression-

ignited injection system. In a compression-ignited system, the diesel fuel is injected into the

combustion chamber of the engine and ignited by the high temperatures achieved when the

gas is compressed by the engine piston. Many diesel vehicles have additional components that

break down dangerous nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions into harmless nitrogen and water. 5

Lean-burn engines

If internal combustion engines were 100 percent efficient, the fuel would burn and produce

just carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. But the reality is, engines are far less efficient and the

combustion process also produces carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and

unburned hydrocarbons in addition to CO2 and water vapor. In order to reduce these harmful

exhaust emissions, lean-burn engines are used, which produce lower levels of emissions by

better combustion control and more complete fuel burning inside the engine cylinders.6

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The history of the greenhouse effect

In 1896, a Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius claimed for the first time that fossil fuel

combustion could result in increasing climate change. He proposed a relation between

carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and temperature. He also found that

the average temperature on Earth is about 15oC, because of the infrared absorption

capacity of water vapor and carbon dioxide, called the natural greenhouse effect. He

warned that a doubled concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere would result in

increasing Earth’s atmosphere temperature by 5oC. He and Thomas Chamberlin also

calculated that human activities could cause Earth to become warmer, due to the CO2

emissions.

However, after their discoveries, the topic was forgotten for many years. At that time

people thought that human interference was insignificant compared to natural forces,

such as solar activity and ocean circulation. They also believed that oceans could

absorb carbon dioxide and thus minimize air pollution.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Charles Keeling used the most modern technologies

available to produce concentration curves for atmospheric CO2. In the 1980s the

5 “How Do Diesel Vehicles Work?” Alternative Fuels Data Center, afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-diesel-cars-work#:~:text=Diesel%20vehicles%20are%20similar%20to,both%20use%20internal%20combustion%20engines.&text=In%20a%20compression%2Dignited%20system,compressed%20by%20the%20engine%20piston 6 Gable, Christine, and Scott Gable . “What Is a Lean-Burn Engine?” LiveAbout, 12 Feb. 2019,

www.liveabout.com/what-is-a-lean-burn-engine-85367.

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global annual temperature curve started to rise and the global warming theory started

to spread. Many Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) started

advocating environmental protection and global warming. In 1988, it was proved that

the climate was warmer than in any period since 1880. However, in 1990s, scientists

started questioning the theory of the greenhouse effect and the accuracy of the data.

While also defending that global warming, models have overestimated the warming

trend of the past 100 years.

Currently, we know for a fact that the year 1998 was the warmest year on record on

a global level, followed by 2002, 2003, 2001 and 1990, in descending order. Basically,

the 10 warmest years on the planet have all occurred ever since 1990. So far, little has

been done to combat the problem of climate change, both from the citizens and the

member states and it is a global problem that cannot be solved without global

mobilization.

What is the greenhouse effect?

Gases in the atmosphere, which are called greenhouse gases, trap the sun’s heat just like the glass roof of a greenhouse. During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere and thus warms up Earth’s surface. At night, Earth's surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. Some of that heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting in keeping the temperature ideal, on 14 degrees average, so that all living things can survive on the planet.

However, human activities, like the use of cars and the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil are changing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. More carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into our atmosphere. Too much of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth's atmosphere to trap more and more heat, causing Earth’s temperature to drastically increase.

Some of these greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),

nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone etc.

The effects of greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions have many negative effects on both the environment and

human lives.

Firstly, greenhouse gases increase the Earth’s temperature and thus aggravate climate

change. As we all know, climate change has had a huge negative impact on our planet.

It causes extreme weather conditions like floods, tsunamis, heavy rain and it causes

sea-levels to rise and ice to melt. These phenomena account for the extinction of many

animals. They also have an impact on human lives, as many villages and towns are

affected by tsunamis and wildfires every year and thus many people lose their homes

or worse, their lives.

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The greenhouse gas emissions also cause many health implications on humans. They

contribute to allergies and respiratory diseases, like asthma, resulting from smog and

air pollution. Warmer temperatures also mean that there are more insects that can

spread deadly diseases and viruses.

Why is green transportation important?

The transportation sector is responsible for around 23% of the world’s greenhouse gas

emissions, with road transport specifically, accounting for 75% of that aforementioned

percentage. Thus, it plays a huge role when discussing the increase of greenhouse gas

emissions into the atmosphere.

However, road transportation is a huge part of our lives and no one can deny how

easier our life has become since road transportation methods were invented. Hence,

we cannot avoid the issue at hand nor continue harming the environment and our

health.

This is why it is important to find new ways of transportation that are sustainable and

eco-friendly. In the past few years, green transportation has slowly started developing

as an idea, with many experts and countries’ governments trying to invent the ways

with which transportation could be transformed and the reasons behind green

transportation’s necessity in our lives.

Green transportation, other than producing fewer CO2 emissions and using fewer

fossil fuels and thus contributing to almost none environmental pollution, has many

benefits for the society as a whole. When people choose to walk, use their bicycle or

public transportation, there are fewer vehicles on the roads, and thus fewer

greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere. It is also proved that

public transportation produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile

than private vehicles. For example, subways and metros produce on average 76%

fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile than an average private vehicle,

while buses produce 33% fewer emissions.

Furthermore, the governments by manufacturing and distributing green vehicles will

improve the already existing transport systems. More jobs in the transportation sector

will be created and socioeconomic disparities will be minimized.

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Image 1: ETS is the EU emissions trading system, a tool by the EU to reduce greenhouse gases. it includes most of the power sector, large industries and, currently, intra-EU flights. Source: “Transport Climate Targets and the

Paris Agreement.” Transport and Environment, www.transportenvironment.org/what-we-do/transport-climate-targets-and-paris-agreement.

Modes of green transportation

Choosing green transportation doesn’t necessarily mean the investment of money in

cutting-edge vehicles (i.e., electric or hybrid cars). There are other simpler, more

affordable ways that we can start incorporating into our lives, so that we can make a

positive impact on the environment and change the way we transport from one place

to another.

Firstly, two of the easiest solutions would be walking and bicycling. Walking costs

nothing and most people already own a bicycle. Thus, it is really easy for people to

start using these methods of transportation and there are also many health benefits,

as they can exercise at the same time. It is scientifically proven that bicycling is a great

form of cardio exercise. Furthermore, exercising helps improve our mental health, it

boosts our energy and improves our mood. However, going from one place to another

on foot or by bicycle is not always easy and can take much time. Public transportation

offers a solution to this problem as it is a really easy and affordable way of

transportation, and there are many different methods like buses, metros and trains.

Nowadays, most cities are connected with a subway system and almost everyone has

at least one station close to them.

However, it is not always easy for people to use public transportation and that’s why

private vehicles are important. Private vehicles are the ones that emit 75% of the total

greenhouse gases that are produced by the transportation sector. Thus, altering road

transportation is one major step towards green transportation. Electric vehicles and

motorcycles are now starting to make their appearance on the market.

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Electric vehicles do not have combustion engines so they do not produce any

emissions. They also do not use fossil fuels, as they can be charged from a wall socket

using electricity. Thus, they are much more eco-friendly than typical vehicles. They are

also cheaper to use than a petrol vehicle and there is very little maintenance required.

Another interesting invention is the hybrid car. Hybrid cars use two or more engines

(an electric motor and a conventional engine, either petrol or diesel). They conserve

fuel and they are less dependent on them, thus producing fewer CO2 emissions. Most

hybrid cars are quite expensive (5.000 to 10.000 more than usual cars), but they have

lower running costs and lower annual tax bills.

The European Union has promoted diesel as the more environmentally friendly fuel.

Thus, diesel cars are another solution to the problem. Diesel engines are “lean-burn”

which means that they use less fuel and more air to achieve the same performance as

a vehicle with a petrol engine would. Diesel cars are able to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions, especially CO2 emissions.

The Green Transportation Pyramid

Image 1: The green transportation pyramid that shows the most sustainable methods of transportation, source: Wikipedia.org

COUNTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED

Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR)

Hong Kong was ranked the top city worldwide for sustainable transport in the 2017

Sustainable Cities Mobility Index from Arcadis, as it had a well-connected and

innovative transport network. This research examined how 100 major cities address

challenges in mobility across the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental,

economic). According to this study, Hong Kong is the leading global city when it comes

to sustainable transport.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is leading the world for sustainable transport and it was ranked as the second

city worldwide for sustainable transport in the 2017 Sustainable Cities Mobility Index

from Arcadis. Zurich due to well-planned public transport managed to achieve a high

ranking in urban quality of life, high levels of public transportation and limited car use.

It has managed to have a positive ecological footprint and its actions take into

consideration climate change, the conservation of greenspace and biodiversity. Zurich

achieved these goals through democratic participation, effective coordination,

transport services of high quality and restrictions in car use (by building fewer urban

highways and having a restrictive parking policy).

Image 2: Source: 2017 Arcadis Sustainable Cities Mobility Index, https://assets.weforum.org/editor/large_ab57nlHN1dTMyEIqeq3AvQMbFpW26ITtTJYkZzCilvU.jpg

Paris, France

France is one of the European countries that have taken concrete actions in order to

reduce their greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the transport sector. Most

French citizens own a car and thus the number of people that choose car

transportation is increased. France adopted a policy on limiting the use of fossil fuel

energy through fuel taxes. This means that the French government increased the fossil

fuel tax in late 2017, which is expected to cover all the negative consequences of car

use, like carbon emissions and air pollution. In Paris, the capital of France, public

transport is available day and night, making public transportation much easier. One of

its goals is to make all Parisian buses 100% ecological by 2025. Paris has also developed

cycling paths and parking spaces for electric vehicles.

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Norway

Norway is one of the countries in which many people use their cars on a daily basis,

and thus it is important to take action. Norway has supported clean energy mobility

as the government made efforts to promote alternative energy sources to be used in

transport. It has also encouraged electric vehicles, by providing the citizens with

publicly financed charging stations and free tolls. By June 2018, Norway had the

highest number of all-electric cars in the world and 47% of the newly registered cars

were electric vehicles.

United Kingdom (UK)

The British government released a report in 2020 addressing the decarbonization of

transport as part of its national climate crisis strategy. According to the report “rapid

and unprecedented action” should be taken, in order for change to happen, to reduce

cars and make the UK a hub for green technology. This plan is divided into six priorities

so that the UK could be net zero (meaning to achieve balance between emissions

produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere) by 2050. The report is focused

on active methods of transport, like bicycling and walking.

The six priorities are:

● Accelerating a shift towards public and active transport

● Decarbonizing road vehicles

● Decarbonizing how our goods and services reach us

● Solutions for emissions reductions based on specific locations

● The UK as a hub for green technology and innovation

● Reducing carbon in a global economy7

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, also announced a £5 billion worth of investment in

local buses (for at least 4,000 zero emission buses), cycling and walking infrastructure,

on 11th of February 2020.

United States of America (USA)

Transportation is responsible for 30% of energy demand in the U.S., and electricity

generation is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States (in

2016). The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (an office within the

United States Department of Energy), leads U.S. researchers and other partners in

transforming transportation by making it cleaner and more efficient, by putting

electric vehicles on the road and replacing oil with clean domestic fuels, like biogas.

7 Source: Campbell, Maeve. “UK Announces 'Ambitious' Plan to Become a Hub for Green Transport.”

Living, Euronews , Euronews , 31 Mar. 2020, www.euronews.com/living/2020/03/30/uk-announces-ambitious-plan-to-become-hub-for-green-transport#.

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China

China faces serious challenges due to the rapid urbanization and motorization and

environmental degradation has been a major concern. Compared with European

cities, public transport in China is far behind and car ownership will continue to

expand. The promotion and transformation of public transportation and urban

planning are two of the main goals of the Chinese government. Its strategy includes

electro-mobility and New Energy Vehicles (NEV), especially New Energy Buses. The

government has taken supportive policies, like financial aid for the purchase and

operation of New Energy Buses and tax reductions. By the end of 2019, more than

400,000 New Energy Buses were in operation in China.

European Union

The European Union has created the EU transport policy (which has been one of the

EU’s common policies for more than 30 years), whose goal is to create

environmentally friendly transport solutions for all European citizens. This policy

includes many sub-policies, on transport emissions, modes of transport, transport

infrastructure and transport themes. The European Commission has proposed the

Green Infrastructure Strategy which promotes the development of Green

Infrastructure across the EU. This strategy is important in achieving the goal of the

European transport policy, which is to reduce the carbon footprint of transport.

Link to the Green Infrastructure Strategy document:

“Green Infrastructure and the Transport Sector.” European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/pdf/Green%20Infrastructure/GI_transport.pdf

Sustainable Mobility for All

After the World Bank proposed bringing together international stakeholders to

achieve sustainable mobility and the SDGs, the Sustainable Mobility for All was

created. In 2017, this initiative was established during the first Consortium Meeting in

Washington, DC. The Sustainable Mobility for All organization is organizing events on

sustainable transportation and informs the public about the significance of the

problem.

United Nations

In 1997, the UN General Assembly noted that transportation would be the main

driving force behind a growing world demand for energy for the next 20 years. Since

then, the United Nations have taken important action towards developing green

transportation and enforcing its place on our everyday lives.

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The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon convened the first ever Global Sustainable

Transport Conference on 26 and 27 November 2016 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (more

information can be found on the previous attempts to solve the issue).

The UN has also set the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, one of them being “Goal

11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Its main goal is the creation

of sustainable and safe cities, with transportation being one of the aspects that need

to be transformed.

The UN has also created various resolutions on the topic, its importance for the people

and the society as a whole and the ways green transportation can be achieved and

implemented.

(Some of the most important resolutions can be found in the “Previous attempts to

solve the issue” section of this study guide).

United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable

Transport

The now-former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, appointed in 2014 a High-Level

Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport which would work on social development,

the protection of the global environment and address climate change. Thus, in 2015,

it created a report on Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development. It noted that

sustainable transport is essential to achieving climate change goals and it contributed

to the achievement of the SDGs.

Link to the Report:

“Mobilizing Sustainable Transport for Development.” United Nations Secretary-

General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport,

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=2375&

menu=1515#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20United%20Nations%20Secretary,economic

%20growth%2C%20and%20bolster%20the

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

DATE EVENT 3 to 14 June 1992 Agenda 21 was adopted by more than 178 Governments

at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that was held in Rio de Janeiro.

1992 and 1996 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was founded by the UN Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Organization released climate change reports.

26 August to 4 September 2002

Agenda 21 was fully implemented and was strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

2012 International Transport Forum - Seamless Transport: Making Connections (https://www.itf-oecd.org/seamless-transport-making-connections-highlights-international-transport-forum-2012)

2014 A High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport was appointed by the now-former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.

12 December 2015 The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 Parties at Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 in Paris.

26 to 27 November 2016

First Global Sustainable Transport Conference held by the UN in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

2017 The Sustainable Mobility for All organization was created.

2017 The Sustainable Mobility Index was created by Arcadis.

23 October 2019 The Global Roadmap of Action Toward Sustainable Mobility (GRA) was launched at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC.

2021 Second Global Sustainable Transport Conference held by the UN set to take place in 2021.

PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE

Agenda 21

Agenda 21 was adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations

Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) which was held in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil from 3 to 14 June 1992. However, the Agenda 21 (the Programme for

Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Commitments to the Rio principles) was

fully implemented at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) which

was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002.

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Agenda 21 is a plan of action that needs to be taken in regional, national and

international level by UN Organizations and Member States in every area where

human interference impacts the environment.

Although neither energy nor transport is addressed explicitly in Agenda 21, they are

considered throughout the document. More specifically, in chapters 9 (atmosphere)

and 14 (agriculture and rural development) for energy, and chapters 7 (human

settlements) and 9 (atmosphere) for transport. The importance of transport in

sustainable development was firstly recognized at the 1992 UN’s Earth Summit and it

was reinforced in Agenda 21.

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 Parties at Conference of the Parties (COP)

21 in Paris on 12th December 2015 and was officially entered into force on 4th

November 2016.

It is a legally binding document on Climate Change whose main goal is to limit global

warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

It works in a 5-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action. Countries had until

2020 to communicate their plans and actions they would take to reduce greenhouse

gas emissions in order to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

A main part of the Paris Agreement is the reduction of CO2 emissions produced by the

transportation sector. However, global efforts on sustainable mobility have so far

been insufficient.

Secretary-General’s Global Sustainable Transport Conferences

First Global Sustainable Transport Conference (26 to 27 November 2016, Ashgabat,

Turkmenistan)

The global commitment to sustainable transport was highlighted in the first ever

Global Sustainable Transport Conference convened by the UN Secretary-General Ban

Ki-Moon. In this conference, key stakeholders from Governments, the UN, the private

sector and international organizations engaged in dialogue that focused on

sustainable transport and its importance in achieving the Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs). In the conference all different modes of transportation were discussed

along with the challenges that are posed in achieving sustainable transport and

attention was paid to the concerns of Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs).

Link to the summary report:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/12438Summary_Repor

t_GSTC.pdf

Second Global Sustainable Transport Conference

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The Second Global Sustainable Transport Conference was scheduled to take place

from 5 to 7 May 2020 in Beijing, China. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it

was postponed and it is estimated that it will take place in 2021. It will follow up on

the First Global Sustainable Transport Conference and it will indicate a way forward

towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Resolution A/RES/72/212

This resolution on “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve

the Sustainable Development Goals” was adopted by the General Assembly on the

20th of December 2017. It recognizes the importance of sustainable transport in

promoting policy synergies, facilitating trade and achieving financial cooperation, on

a national and international level. It also stresses the necessity of integrating science,

technology and innovation into sustainable transport systems.

This resolution commits to enhancing the role of sustainable transport and mobility in

job creation, facilitation of mobility and improvement of the efficiency of logistics

chains in connecting people and communities to social services. Lastly, it emphasizes

the contribution of sustainable, low-carbon and energy efficient modes of transport

to climate change mitigation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs).

Link to the resolution:

https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/72/212&Lang=E

Resolution A/RES/70/197

This resolution on “Comprehensive cooperation among all modes of transport for

promoting sustainable multimodal transit corridors” was adopted by the General

Assembly on the 22nd of December 2015. It recognizes the importance of

environmentally sound, safe, efficient and affordable multimodal transport for the

efficient movement of goods and people to achieve economic growth and the

significance of cooperation and coordination between the UN and partnerships on

sustainable transport issues. It encourages all Member States to consider adopting

energy efficient and low carbon technologies when making improvements to

transport and transit corridors.

Link to the resolution:

https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/197%20&Lang=E

Global Roadmap of Action Toward Sustainable Mobility (GRA)

The Global Roadmap of Action Toward Sustainable Mobility (GRA) was launched at the

World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC, on October 23, 2019. It tackles the

question “How can my country achieve sustainable mobility?”, that many decision-

makers face. The GRA is a tool that helps any country measure how far it is from

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achieving that goal, explore policy measures that have already been tested and then

lay out a path forward using those that had the most impact.

It is the first-ever effort to look at what it takes to achieve the four policy goals:

universal access, efficiency, safety and green for all modes of transportation. It creates

a customized approach for each country, the changes that should be made and the

policy that should be adopted in order to achieve the sustainable mobility target.

Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Transport Connectivity in Asia and the Pacific

E/ESCAP/73/15/Add.1

The Ministers of transport and representatives of the members and associate

members of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific are

committed to implementing the resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015 adopted by

the General Assembly, on “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development”.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

In order to achieve green transportation in as many countries as possible, many steps

need to be taken, both from the country’s and the citizens’ perspective.

Raising Awareness

The first thing that needs to happen is for governments to raise awareness on the huge

negative impact the transport sector has on the environment and the people, how it

affects the greenhouse effects and the climate change phenomenon.

Cooperation and communication between Member States

Member States need to effectively cooperate and communicate to find solutions on

the problem, propose measures and actions that should be taken in order to

incorporate green transportation into the everyday habits of the society. This could

be achieved by adopting UN resolutions, like the resolution A/RES/72/212 on

“Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable

Development Goals'' or other reports and policies that have been created by

international and national organizations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and

promoting green transportation, like the Global Roadmap of Action Toward

Sustainable Mobility (GRA).

Furthermore, it is crucial for representatives of Member States to attend the second

conference on Sustainable Transport held by the UN in 2021, whether this will be

hosted online or in person. This conference is a great opportunity for Governments to

get informed on the topic and the practices they can implement to start introducing

green transportation to their citizens and countries.

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Transforming cities to adapt into green transportation

Furthermore, it is crucial for governments to start transforming their countries, cities

and towns to adapt into green transportation. This could only be achieved by re-

designing cities and towns, making roads for bicycles and creating wider sidewalks for

the pedestrians. Governments should invest a certain amount of money to get in

contact with city designers and experts on the topic to create the plans for the

transformation of their cities. Thus, people would be more encouraged to walk or use

their bicycle to transport from one place to another as they would feel safer.

Governments should also make public transport eco-friendlier and more efficient and

promote the use of electric cars by putting at least one charging station in every city.

Citizens being more conscious about their choices

Citizens should also be more conscious about their transport choices. They could use

the public transportation methods more frequently or walk or use their bicycle when

they want to transport to a close destination. If they want to buy a new car, they

should try to invest in hybrid cars or electric cars, as they could benefit more in the

long run. However, if they do not wish to change their car yet, they should try to

minimize its use. Clauses that would encourage citizens to do so would be of

paramount importance. Another thought could be to consider imposing sanctions, or

fines on those who chose to disregard the importance of the wellbeing of the

Environment and its contribution to the prosperity of mankind.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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YkZzCilvU.jpg