The Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched a Global E-Mobility Program at the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to the UNFCCC. The Program will promote and accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles at scale, with the aim of reducing fossil fuel dependency and improving air quality.

The Global E-Mobility Program will help governments in 17 countries establish policies to enable technology transfer, access commercial finance and engage the private sector in deploying electric vehicles. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will implement the Program in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA). The GEF has provided an initial USD 33 million for the Program, and aims to leverage over USD 400 million in co-financing, including from the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Without a worldwide switch to a zero-emissions electric fleet, we will not meet the Paris climate targets.

UNEP Head of Air Quality and Mobility, Rob de Jong, said the UNEP Emissions Gap Report and recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports show that “without a worldwide switch to a zero-emissions electric fleet, we will not meet the Paris climate targets.” De Jong stressed the urgency of a global approach to electric mobility, and called on all countries “to start their switch now.” According to the IEA Global EV Outlook 2019, emerging economies could make up approximately 60% of the global electric vehicle fleet by 2030.

The Program will create regional platforms in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The platforms will support the transition to electric mobility in the three regions in coordination with the GEF Sustainable Cities Impact Program.

The initial countries participating in the Program include Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Côte d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Madagascar, Maldives, Peru, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Saint Lucia, Togo, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. [GEF Press Release] [UNEP Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of COP 25] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C]