Transport and Climate Change Week 2024 Sends a Strong Message to COP29 in Baku

The global transport community met virtually from 4-8 November 2024

As COP29 kicks off in Baku, Azerbaijan, the global climate community is gearing up for pivotal climate discussions, with a particular focus on climate finance. The outcomes of the Transport and Climate Change Week 2024, held virtually from 4-8 November, provide crucial insights into how the transport sector can contribute to more ambitious climate goals. The event highlighted the urgent need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in transport and called for a comprehensive, sectoral approach to decarbonisation.

Connecting the Dots: Key Takeaways from Transport Week 2024

Transport Week 2024 brought together over 1,500 participants from 108 countries to explore innovative solutions for sustainable transport. The event featuring 77 speakers in 16 sessions emphasized the importance of integrated, global solutions while also addressing regional challenges and opportunities. Key topics included urban mobility, zero-emission zones, sustainable aviation fuels, and the electrification of freight and public transport.

Notable highlights included discussions on gender-transformative transport systems, climate adaptation in cities, and the role of innovation and standards in achieving a decarbonised transport sector. The week also featured regional peer-learning sessions, where countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America shared best practices and discussed the role of data in shaping transport policies.

Check out the Transport Week 2024 YouTube playlist to stream session recordings and the conference agenda for further details. 

Download the summary poster of Transport Week 2024. 

Participants have Developed a Joint Message

Transport Week culminated in a powerful joint message to COP29, calling for sectoral targets, stronger emissions-reduction frameworks, and a multi-stakeholder approach to sustainable transport. This message, drawn from the outcomes of 16 event sessions, advocates for urgent action and highlights the experiences of those on the ground — particularly in the Global South — where the need for transport finance is critical.

Download the joint message here.

COP29: A Catalyst for Climate Finance and Action in Transport

Following the 2023 Global Stocktake, this year’s COP29 climate talks in Baku will be a defining moment for climate action, particularly when it comes to finance. A key focus of this year’s discussions will be how to raise the necessary funds for bold climate action. As countries work to operationalise their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and many suffer from the economic crisis, the need for climate finance has never been more urgent. 

The transport sector can be a leader in climate action, but it needs the right support to scale up successful models and practices. Transport finance in the Global South is projected to need approximately $650 billion annually by 2030 (Source) to support decarbonization efforts. Transport Week highlighted that the transition away from fossil fuels cannot happen in isolation – it requires a coordinated, multi-faceted approach, including a shift to zero emission technologies and stronger policy frameworks to change travel behaviour, reduce unnecessary journeys and shift to low emission modes. 

Continuing the Conversation in Baku

At COP29, the transport community will continue advocating for targeted action, with initiatives like the Avoid and Shift Breakthrough and the COP29 Multisectoral Actions Pathways Declaration to Resilient and Healthy Cities. In Baku, Transport Day, scheduled for the 20th of COP29, will provide a dedicated platform to address transport-related issues and drive forward climate solutions. The SLOCAT partnership has compiled an overview of all transport-related side events at COP29. 

By linking the discussions at Transport Week to the broader climate targets of COP29, the transport sector can play a leading role in achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century. The outcomes of Transport Week serve as a call to action, emphasizing that the time for decisive transport climate action is now.

The Mobilize Net-Zero project team is organising the Transport and Climate Change Week, alternating between a virtual and face-to-face format. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and is funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).