Held in conjunction with the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Co-organized by UNECE, UNESCAP and UNDESA.
I. INTRODUCTION
The global transport sector has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector and in 2021 accounted for almost one quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The road transport sector, including passenger cars, buses, heavy and light duty commercial vehicles, quite unlike other inland transport sub-sectors, such as rail and inland waterway transport, and much more than the aviation and maritime sectors combined, is a main polluter accounting for approximately 77 per cent of global transport related GHG emissions. Therefore, the road-based transport sector bares a unique responsibility in helping countries meet their climate change mitigation goals with solutions already available to drastically reduce its climate impact.
II. OBJECTIVE
This high-level policy dialogue hosted at the COP28 SDG Pavilion by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) offers a unique platform for member States of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to take stock of ongoing and planned regulatory and practical efforts aimed at decarbonizing the transport sector, in particular inland transport, and at strengthening transport system climate change preparedness through the adoption of appropriate adaptation and resilience measures. Deliberations are expected to raise awareness of the importance of the transport sector in combating climate change, building resilience and promoting commitment to effective actions in this sector. The outcome will feed into the process for the finalization of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland Transport ahead of its envisaged endorsement in 2024, contribute to the development of the ESCAP Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport.