9 October 2014: At an informal meeting of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, members discussed its scope of work and priority areas. Members recognized urbanization as key in addressing transport challenges, and said a paradigm shift is needed, encompassing changes in consumer behavior and culture, and commitments to changing unsustainable consumption patterns.

The group aims to promote accelerated implementation of sustainable transport to address climate change, protect the global environment and promote inclusive equitable growth and social development. The group is expected to: provide a global message and recommendations on sustainable transport; launch a ‘Global Transport Outlook Report’; and mobilize action and initiatives to support sustainable transport.

Speaking at the meeting on 24 September, the Advisory Group’s Executive Secretary and Director of the UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD, DESA) highlighted transport and mobility as essential for sustainable development, and noted their contributions to economic and productive growth. Participants recognized that increased motorization and urbanization have resulted in increased vehicle emissions, energy use and congestion, and have had negative effects on climate change, health and living conditions, and urban air quality. Participants further recognized that developing countries still lack affordable and safe transport, particularly in rural areas. The group also discussed the social dimension of transport, including inequality. [SD in Action: October 2014] [IISD RS Story on Group’s Establishment]