[Video Message]
Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured to address you at the SDG Pavilion in Baku to promote Sustainable Transport Day.
Sustainable transport is a crucial cross-cutting factor that has a growing impact on the achievement of the SDGs.
We need transport systems that are clean, affordable, accessible and just.
However, transport is the sector with the lowest share of renewable energy use.
Nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions come from transport, and these emissions are projected to grow significantly in the years to come.
We need more efficient vehicles, running on electricity and new zero-carbon fuels.
And we need to look at transport sustainability beyond the sector¡¯s energy mix.
We need better urban planning, increased use of public transport, rail, walking and cycling. We need more resilient and smart infrastructure, and seamless transport solutions powered by better use of new and existing technologies.
Such actions will elevate our climate ambitions and drive us towards more sustainable and inclusive societies.
Colleagues,
The momentum around sustainable transport is growing.
Just last year the General Assembly declared 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day and set the first UN Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026. Member States have also called for a Third UN Conference on Sustainable Transport.
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs is building on this momentum. We are working with Regional Commissions, other UN-system partners and relevant stakeholders to develop an implementation plan for the Decade that will bring together the voices and actions of all relevant transport actors.
We held consultations with Member States on the plan in October, and launched a global call for inputs that will remain open until January next year. We urge all interested stakeholders to share their thoughts and views with us by submitting their inputs online.
The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport should address transport in a balanced manner. All sectors ¨C maritime, inland transport and aviation ¨C should be included in our efforts.
We must account for the interlinkages between our policy aims to ensure that choices in the transport sector tackle issues such as climate, road safety, air pollution, health, access and affordability.
The implementation plan should also pay special attention to ensuring our transport systems are inclusive, catering to the needs and safety of all transport users.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We look forward to hearing your views today on how we can make the best use of the upcoming UN Decade of Sustainable Transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you!