Towards a Regional Vision for Sustainable Transport in Latin America and the Caribbean

Zero Emissions Mobility Commitment

The latest IPCC report reinforces that the climate crisis is the greatest threat to humanity. It also warns that efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius “will be out of reach” in the next decade without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from transport increased by 3% between 2010 and 2019, and more than 95% of the sector’s energy needs come from oil and its derivatives.

In addition, as one of the most urbanised regions on the planet, and 80% of the population projected to live in cities by 2050, the transformation of the transport sector is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to implement available and cost-effective solutions to significantly reduce transport emissions, create co-benefits and change behaviour, while simultaneously providing sustainable transport and mobility services that are efficient, equitable, reliable, resilient, safe, accessible, and affordable.

In the framework of the Climate Breakthroughs, and recognising the strategic role of the transport sector in climate action, the High-Level Champions COP has launched the “Zero Emissions Mobility: Commitment for Latin America and the Caribbean”. This initiative seeks to commit cities in the region to the transformation of transport and the implementation of measures in line with carbon neutrality. It also aims to encourage the construction of a medium-term vision for the sector.

To this end, and with the support of UN Environment, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, SLOCAT, TUMI, ICLEI, C40, the initiative has developed a “playbook” aimed at authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean that provides a step-by-step guide to transforming public transport, identifying tools, key cases and experiences, recommendations, among others.

From GIZ, the initiative is being suported by the Moving Chile project; the EUROCLIMA+ programme, and the TUMI Initiative

This commitment, now focused on the Latin American region, will be presented at the next COP26 in Glasgow, and will continue its mission during the next presidency of the Conference.

For more information on this initiative, please contact gmunoz@cop25.cl and andreadavila@climatechampions.team.

To support the dissemination and diffusion of this initiative please contact macarena.castillo@giz.de


Author(s)
mm

Macarena Castillo, Santiago
macarena.castillo@giz.de