With the transport sector contributing approximately 25% of all direct greenhouse gas emissions, there is a renewed
sense of urgency for achieving sustainable transport globally– transport that is safe, green, efficient and accessible.
As we head towards COP26 in November, the UN Sustainable Transport Conference, hosted by the People’s Republic of China
from 14 to 16 October, is an opportunity to highlight concrete solutions for developing transport systems that will
effectively respond to the climate crisis.
In addition to its impact on the environment, the transport sector has also contributed to 1.35 million deaths every
year in traffic accidents worldwide. Over 1 billion people globally still lack adequate access to an all-weather road
and in many cities, public transport remains unsustainable, unsafe, inefficient, inaccessible or unaffordable – a
situation that is particularly affecting people living in poverty.
The UN Sustainable Transport Conference
The UN Sustainable Transport Conference will provide a roadmap for achieving transport systems that are designed to help
protect the environment, while opening economic opportunities and improving health and well-being. The Conference will
focus on the opportunities and challenges for all modes of transport – road, rail, aviation and waterborne – and provide
concrete solutions for achieving sustainable transport worldwide.
The 3-day Conference will be hybrid and will consist of plenary sessions, a Ministers’ Forum, a Business Forum and a
Science, Engineering and Technology Forum. At the heart of discussions will be the links between achieving sustainable
transport and economic recovery, climate mitigation and other issues.
Who: Ministers, business leaders, transport experts
Where: Beijing, China
When: 14 to 16 October
Follow live: UN WebTV
Website, including programme: https://www.un.org/transport2021
Hashtag: #SustainableTransport