13 October 2016: Speaking at a high-level meeting on sustainable transport for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) that convened in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored the role of sustainable transport in tackling climate change and building a cleaner, greener world. He called attention to the first-ever Global Conference on Sustainable Transport, which will convene in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from 26-27 November 2016.

Ban highlighted sustainable transport as “a special challenge for LLDCs, which face unique transport obstacles, such as remoteness from major markets and high transport costs.” He elaborated on the crucial role of “economically, viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound transport systems.” Ban also highlighted the transport sector’s role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) welcomed the Secretary-General’s intention to convene “the first-ever global conference on sustainable transport” in a 2015 Resolution (A/RES/70/197), which outlines sustainable transport’s potential to contribute to the 2030 Agenda by: facilitating women’s opportunities for empowerment and employment; enabling young people to attend school; contributing to a more sustainable planet by reducing emissions and improving air quality; and facilitating access to markets and basic services, among other linkages.

The Conference is expected to address all these linkages and all modes of transport, including aviation, ferry, maritime, rail and road. It will focus on LLDCs, the least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). [UN Secretary-General Statement] [Global Sustainable Transport Conference] [Resolution 70/197]