How to Create Real Action in the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport

Transport systems are the lifelines of modern economies and societies. But while they enable access to jobs, education, and healthcare, they also contribute significantly to inequality, pollution, and climate change. As the world struggles to stay on track with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the newly announced UN Decade of Sustainable Transport presents a timely and powerful opportunity to reimagine mobility for people and the planet.

Declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2023, the decade is currently being shaped through stakeholder consultations. It represents a critical window to align national and international efforts—through regulation, investment, and innovation—to create inclusive, low-carbon, and resilient transport systems.

Shared international indicators will be key to guiding this journey. They can provide governments with a reliable compass to steer policy and track progress in a meaningful and comparable way.

GIZ’s Commitment to Sustainable Mobility

At the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), we welcome this initiative. We are already actively supporting governments and practitioners in advancing sustainable transport policies.

Transport is a powerful enabler of sustainable development, impacting everything from school attendance to employment opportunities. At the same time, it remains a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and road fatalities—issues that are particularly pressing in low- and middle-income countries. Addressing these challenges in an integrated manner is essential if we want to make the Decade of Sustainable Transport truly transformative.

Transport as a Cornerstone for Achieving the SDGs

Set to launch in 2026 and run through 2035, the UN International Decade of Sustainable Transport is a global call to anchor sustainable mobility at the heart of development efforts and SDG delivery. The goal: to make transport systems more equitable, energy-efficient, safe, and climate-friendly.

Preparatory work is already underway. A comprehensive Implementation Plan is currently being drafted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), informed by broad consultations with governments, civil society, and the private sector. The plan is scheduled for launch on November 26, 2025, in line with the World Sustainable Transport Day.

Early dialogue—including a multi-stakeholder workshop in London facilitated by the British FCDO, the Canadian IDRC, and the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT)—has identified three core priorities:

• Resilient economic growth and decent jobs
• Safe, affordable mobility for all
• Environmental and climate protection

SLOCAT published a first input paper in late 2024 and is currently working on a roadmap to distil the contributions into actionable steps. However, the discussions so far remain relatively broad. What’s still missing are concrete targets and operational indicators to help countries translate the vision into real-world action.

From Vision to Action: Making the Decade Count

At GIZ, we believe this decade must become more than just a global vision. In our work with partner countries—from promoting walkability in cities, to improving freight logistics in regional economic corridors, to electrifying national vehicle fleets—we see firsthand the need to make global frameworks relevant at the local and national levels.

For the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport to truly make a difference, it needs to inspire countries to shape their own roadmaps—ones that align with the global objectives but respond to local realities. The decade should be framed in a way that motivates governments to act—by offering a compelling narrative, practical tools, and the promise of meaningful impact for their populations.

This means creating a framework that supports:

• Setting clear, country-specific goals
• Defining measurable outcomes based on smart indicators
• Implementing policies that unlock investment and innovation

Such national efforts could include emissions reduction targets, infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transport, sustainable freight solutions, and enabling conditions for e-mobility.

With a strong foundation in place, international donors and institutions can then align their support—whether financial, technical, or in capacity-building—more effectively. At the same time, sharing data and experiences across borders will help accelerate progress. For all of this, robust and relevant indicators will be critical to track progress and steer action.

Learning from Namibia: Road Safety as a Precedent

The UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011–2020) provides a useful precedent. Countries like Namibia leveraged the framework to create customized national road safety strategies, aligning global targets with local needs.

The Namibian Road Safety Council (NRSC) effectively used the global momentum of the UN Decade to engage national stakeholders and attract international support for its road safety agenda. This led to the development of a governance framework and KPIs now applied across government institutions. The initiative helped raise political awareness of road fatalities and anchored Vision Zero in national strategies. Namibia also improved crash data systems, launched public campaigns like #Stand, and strengthened coordination across sectors. In recognition of these efforts, Namibia received the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award in 2021, affirming its role as a regional leader in road safety.

Accelerating Toward 2026

With just over a year to go before launch, momentum is building. Finalizing the Implementation Plan, integrating lessons from global workshops, and mobilizing broad-based support are the next milestones. UN DESA, the regional UN Commissions, and SLOCAT are already hard at work. The next key consultation will take place at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit in Leipzig, Germany.

By November 26, 2025, the Decade will be officially launched—marking the start of implementation from 2026. Whether it becomes a turning point for sustainable transport, however, will depend on how successfully its ambitions are translated into action on the ground.

At GIZ, we are ready to integrate the Decade into our ongoing programmes—if our partner countries see value in building national implementation plans and programmes around it. For us, the real opportunity lies in supporting countries to define their targets, improve data collection and usage, and create lasting change.

The next ten years are not only pivotal for achieving the SDGs—they are also essential for meeting the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. As the Decade of Sustainable Transport approaches, the global community faces a clear choice: continue with business as usual, or boldly rethink mobility systems as engines of sustainable development.

If successful, this decade can become a milestone in positioning transport as a true enabler for sustainable development, achieving the SDGs and of a more just, green, and connected future.