Launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035)

Well, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, a very warm good morning to everyone. Welcome you to take your time to join us for today's event. My name is Li Junhua. I'm the Under-Secretary-General for UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. We, in collaboration with our partners, initiated today's event, so please allow me just to say a few opening remarks and then we'll proceed to the high-level segment. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, it is a great pleasure for me to welcome all of you to the launch of the UN Decade for Sustainable Development— I'm sorry, Sustainable Transport. The multi-stakeholder event today Brings together governments, MDBs, civil society, research institutions, youth representatives, the UN system, and many others. This broad participation demonstrates how deeply sustainable transport connects to every aspect of communities and economies. Every day, in every country, Sustainable transport creates opportunities. From social access to global trade, transport drives sustainable development. It links rural workers to jobs, ensures children safely reach schools, and drives global trade through cleaner, more efficient logistics. It defines how we live, how businesses compete, and actually how nations grow. Dear colleagues, sustainable transport is essential to accelerating the 2030 Agenda. It drives synergies across poverty eradication, public health, climate action, gender equality, education, and beyond. Recognizing this critical link, The General Assembly declared the next 10 years as the Decade of Sustainable Transport. It requested my department, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to collaborate with regional commissions and diverse stakeholders to develop the implementation plan for the UN Decade. This inclusive process opened new avenues for cooperation, and laid the foundation for the new partnerships. The Implementation Plan launched today will provide a shared vision outlining 6 priority areas and the means of implementation for this transformative Transported Action. The energy and enthusiasm across the transport community are undeniable. The UN DESA has received over 80 voluntary Transported Action commitments so far from the stakeholders ready to advance sustainable transport. This actually demonstrates the sector's readiness to act and to lead with innovation and ambition. Some of these commitments will be showcased in our today's programme. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, today is the only the beginning, we must ensure that the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport is not just words, but a vehicle for tangible change. The newly approved General Assembly resolution welcomed this launch and charted the path forward for monitoring progress. Member States have also requested the UN-DESA to coordinate the development of the of visual and data-driven tools, including a Joint Atlas of Transport Sustainability, to track progress. These tools will highlight global, regional, and national indicators, good practices, and voluntary commitments, ensuring transparency, accountability, and inspiration for future actions. In addition, Member States will hold a midterm review in 2030, which will serve as the 3rd UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference. This will be a critical moment to assess progress, to adjust strategy, and to accelerate implementation during the second half of the decade. Dear colleagues, the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport offers a unique opportunity to transform transport systems, elevate climate ambition, and drive inclusive development. My department, UNDESA, stands ready to support Member States and all partners in this endeavor. We deeply appreciate the ministers and Member States whose leadership, vision, and support made today's event possible. Your continued engagement remains essential as we advance this ambitious decade. Let us move forward with a shared purpose and collective resolve. No single actor can deliver this transformation alone. But through partnerships, innovation, and steadfast commitment, we can build a sustainable transport system our world needs. I invite all stakeholders to join us in turning today's momentum into lasting change for people and for our planet. Thank you. Thank you so much. I now have the honor to give the floor to Mr. Pavel Havanidzev, Vice President of the UN Economic and Social Council, to deliver his opening remarks. Please.

Thanks, Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour to join you today to deliver these remarks on behalf of the President of the Economic and Social Council on the occasion of the launch of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable transport. Allow me to begin by thanking the Under-Secretary-General for his inspiring remarks and for the leadership of DESA in bringing us to this important milestone. We meet at a time when the world urgently needs renewed momentum behind the 2030 Agenda. Sustainable transport is indispensable to that effort. Transport connects people with opportunities, links producers to markets, and enables the delivery of essential services. When transport systems are truly sustainable, they drive progress across the SDGs, from poverty reduction and food security and gender equality to climate action and sustainable cities. Sustainable transport is not a standalone objective. It is a gateway to accelerating implementation across the entire agenda. The mandate of the Economic and Social Council is especially relevant as we seek to maximise interlinkages and potential synergies across our policy choices. ECOSOC's platforms and expert bodies, including its functional commissions and forums, offer unique space to advance policy coherence, strengthen partnership, and mobilise the means of implementation. The Decade of Sustainable Transport offers fresh impetus to deepen these linkages, and ECOSOC is committed to supporting this shared endeavour. The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held annually in July under the auspices of ECOSOC, has a particularly important role to play. As the central platform for reviewing global progress on the SDGs, The High-Level Political Forum can help raise the visibility of sustainable transport and broaden the conversation, engaging those working in transport with counterparts in health, urban development, climate mitigation and adaptation, digital transformation and financing. In doing so, the HLPF can help build new coalitions and bring fresh perspectives to national and global efforts to transform transport systems in all countries. This will be especially relevant next year as the Forum undertakes in-depth reviews of SDG 7 on energy, SDG 9 on resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization, and SDG 11 on inclusive, safe and resilient cities— goals that are central to the sustainable transport agenda. Excellencies, allow me to speak also from the perspective of a landlocked developing countries, and Armenia is a member of the group. For LLDCs, transport is not just a development issue, it is a lifeline. High transit and transport costs, limited infrastructure, long and unpredictable border procedures, and heavy dependence on neighboring transit countries continue to impede trade competitiveness and economic diversification. These structural constraints have direct implications for poverty reduction, food security and resilience. The launch of this decade comes at a pivotal time for LLDCs. The AVAZA Programme of Action for LLDCs, adopted last December, includes transit, transport and connectivity as one of its key priority areas. I am pleased to note that the Implementation Plan of the UN Decade prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs fully reflects AVAZA Programme of Action. These 2 roadmaps can and must reinforce each other and accelerate efforts in a coherent manner. Ladies and gentlemen, the UN Decade we launch today is a call to action. It is an invitation to reimagine transport's role in our multilateral work and in our daily lives. ECOSOC stands ready to work closely with Member States, the UN System, international financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector to advance this vision. Together, we can ensure that sustainable transport becomes a driver of prosperity, a catalyst for climate action, and a foundation for sustainable development in all countries, especially the most vulnerable. I thank you, and I look forward to our continued collaboration throughout this important decade.

Thank you, Mr. Dhowdhani. Particularly for highlighting the special needs or the vulnerability faced by the landlocked countries, and then also the strong recommendations from the previous conference. Our next opening speaker unfortunately was unable to join us in person, but we have the honor to present video remarks by John Todd, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety. It is clear for everyone that without safe transport, there cannot be sustainable transport. So, dear colleagues, please show the video remarks by Mr. Todd.

Distinguished guests, colleagues, dear friends, today marks an important milestone as we launch the United Nations' First Decade of Sustainable Transport. This decade is not only about cleaner vehicles and better infrastructure, it's about building transport systems that protect people, strengthen communities, And 90% of all road crashes occur in low- and middle-income countries, despite these nations only having about half of the world's vehicles. If transport is to serve development, it cannot compromise safety. The United Nations has committed to cutting road deaths and injuries in half by 2030. At our current pace, we will not succeed. We need consistent enforcement effective policies, and stronger investment from public and private sectors alike. Public transport systems cannot succeed if women cannot travel safely on them at night. Sidewalks are not effective if people with disabilities cannot use them. Roads are not safe if children cannot cross them without risking their lives. Safe mobility is a cornerstone of an inclusive society. Let us use the first decade of sustainable transport to build transport systems that move the world forward without leaving victims behind. If this decade delivers on safety, it can deliver on sustainability. I wish you a successful launch, and I look forward to seeing what we can do together to create safe, sustainable mobility for all. I thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, John. Dear colleagues, as I mentioned earlier, the General Assembly requested my department, UN DESA, to prepare the implementation plan of the UN Decade in collaboration with all the UN regional commissions. Today we are very happy to have here Mr. Dimitri de Mariais, the Deputy Executive Secretary for the Economic Commission for Europe, to speak on behalf of all the 5 regional commissions. Mr. Marianne, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Yujie Li, distinguished delegates, Excellencies, colleagues. It's a privilege to join you today on behalf of the regional commissions as we launch something truly historic, the first-ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. This is not a sectoral decade. This is not about the transport sector's special occasion. This is about enabling sustainable development. This is about future of cities, future of energy, future of social protection, and very much future of trade, which actually powers the economies globally. Without transport reimagined, made much more fit for for purpose, sustainable development will stumble. And this is a key message from the side of the regional commissions. The General Assembly's proclamation of this decade creates a very big expectation from all of us. We need to come together as a United Nations system, with partners, with international financial institutions, to make good on the promise that transport can enable sustainable from efficient logistics to the power of innovation, lays out a very specific way forward. Now, we as regional commissions have been privileged to work with UNDESA to support the development of this plan, which underwent then the deep consultation with member states and multiple stakeholders, and I'm sharing with you just a snippet of our perspective from the 5 regions. For ESCWA, we are reminded that sustainable transport is central to the region's future. However, daily necessities in countries facing wide disparities and development levels also trigger the fact that transport is not the same for various countries of the region. ESCWA and its member states sees the decade as a catalyst, as an opportunity to modernize systems and close persistent gaps, and focusing on mobilizing both financial and non-financial support for sustainable transport. For ESCAP, Asia and the Pacific, we heard a very powerful example of regional leadership where ESCAP convened expert consultations in Bangkok and a senior-level meeting in Beijing to channel member states' priorities directly into the Global Plan. The diversity of the vantage points in Asia-Pacific is striking, from highly connected economies advancing digital mobility and autonomous vehicles to economies that still face very basic transportation needs. The vision is shared though: safe, low-carbon, inclusive, efficient, and climate-resilient transport systems. From ECLAC, we heard countries of Latin America and the Caribbean underscoring the need for approaches that improve efficiencies and logistics, reduce inequalities, promote e-mobility, strengthen connectivity across diverse geographies, and prioritise social inclusion. When talking about transport. Africa, ECA, we are reminded that alignment is needed with the continent's existing transport frameworks and integration agendas, including within the African Union agenda. Across Africa, priorities such as accessibility, safety, efficiency, climate resilience were highlighted, and the decade can serve as a powerful catalyst, including for inter-African trade, strengthening industrialization, and enabling the free movement of people, but also in many, unfortunately still many, fragile contexts in Africa and for many landlocked developing countries in the region. For UNECE Region, as you know, UNECE has a double role as a regional commission and as a global regulatory hub for land transport. We host most of the UN conventions on land transport. The focus is on making sure that these conventions, the regulatory backbone of land transport, undergo transformation in time, in line with the requirements of time. This is about improving vehicle regulations to respond to safety concerns, about intelligent transport systems, about seamless efficient movement of goods through borders using such practical tools as electronic TIR and electronic CMR. This is about e-mobility at scale but planned in a smart way. This is about walking and cycling planning at city level, which are incredibly important if we are talking about modal shift at scale. And it is about road safety. As the Special Envoy mentioned, and we as UNECE are pleased to host this Office of the Special Envoy as well as the UN Road Safety Fund, there is no sustainable transport without safety. We need to remain focused on implementing the objectives of the Global Decade on Road Safety. We need to promote safe systems approach, and we need to make sure that we commit to implementing the commitments made in Marrakesh at the ministerial held earlier this year and prepare for the high-level meeting on road safety next year. Distinguished delegates, I'd like to finish by saying that we will need to do a lot of partnering to make sure this decade is implemented. We need this partnership to advance and modernize the global regulatory frameworks that underpin sustainable mobility. We need it to promote multimodal integrated and low-carbon transport solutions. We need it to strengthen inter-regional perspectives and really make sure that we have a global approach. And that no country is left behind. We need financing at scale, and this is going to be very important that we don't just talk in an echo chamber of public finance, but understand the future of private finance for sustainable transport and how public finance, including through IFIs, can catalyze a new generation of financing for sustainable mobility. And of course, we will also need a partnership within the UN system and with partners to coordinate, to bring funding to the table, and to ensure that through high visibility and political commitment we can make this decade a success. And hence, the idea of the global conference, the idea of potentially creating some pooled funding sources for the decade, and amplifying the political commitment, making sure it is high on the agenda of the ministers, is something that the regional commissions stand committed to work with DESA on going forward, but also relying on the leadership of the many partners who are in this room. With this, distinguished delegates, let me once again say that sustainable transport is about transport for sustainable development, and it is upon us as a community to make sure this works. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mari Janssen, especially for highlighting the extremely importance of the global regional partnerships in delivering our implementation plan. Also, thank you so much for sharing the perspectives and the priorities from the 5 regional commissions. Well, dear colleagues, now we will move to our high-level segment titled Steering Global Momentum. I have the pleasure and the honour to open this discussion, and we are very happy to have distinguished ministers to join us today to provide their political support and guidance as we launch the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Our first speaker is His Excellency Mr. Juan Carlos Muñoz, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications of Chile, to address our meeting. You have the floor, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Distinguished United Nations authorities, esteemed ministers, representatives of multilateral and civil society organizations, good morning. The transport sector is central to our efforts to promote the planet's sustainability. But transport is not only essential for its enormous emissions. But also for its impact on people's daily quality of life and on the development of multiple sectors of our economies. Without transport, it becomes difficult to access healthcare, education, work opportunities, or trade. Thus, promoting transport sustainability requires a commitment that must be firm but also prudent. For these reasons, we celebrate the launch of the Decade of Sustainable Transport. It's a new pledge, grounded in the following conviction that we share and value: global challenges are better addressed collaboratively. Based on this same conviction, we held the Chilean Presidency of the International Transport Forum 2024-2025. We first observed that unlike emissions from the energy sector, which have shown a gradual reduction, transport emissions, despite our efforts, remain stable at best. That is why we invited countries to co-design a Declaration committing to sustainable transport and to agree on a common roadmap. Building on comments, questions and insights from multiple nations and NGOs, we set a concrete goal: reducing the transport sector's energy demand by 25% by 2035, with a third of that energy coming from renewable sources, or sustainable biofuels. This aligns with the target of achieving net-zero emissions in the transport sector by 2050. As of today, 11 countries have signed the commitment— 5 European and 6 Latin American— and we hope many more will join us. Because we know that isolated efforts won't be enough to reach these targets. Not only did we promote this declaration, now we aim at monitoring it. We do not approach this commitment only from theory, but from the conviction that these are achievable goals. From my position as Minister, I have sought, in the nearly 4 years of President Boric's government, to move the barrier of what is possible. The work of successive governments has positioned our country as an international reference in integrated urban public transport. This was no simple task. It's a combination of a system that relies on a state that regulates services, provides funds to raise the quality standard, and operates the metro network. And it also relies on the private sector, which provides technology and operates bus services. This vision demands a more equitable distribution of road space to improve network efficiency through fostering public and non-motorized transport. We aim to make sustainable transport modes the first choice for citizens and a source of pride for every city. Every milestone we reach in our public transport strategy also strengthens our message disincentivizing individual car use. Our focus is on comprehensive policy that goes beyond the circulation of modern, comfortable, silent, and zero-emission bus fleets. We're also transforming our bus terminals, usually categorized as not-in-my-backyard infrastructure, into desirable neighbors. And we have advanced gender equality in professional driving, thereby reducing the severe driver shortage in Chile. Today, 1 in every 8 bus drivers in Santiago is a woman, delivering a service that is proven to be safer and kinder. We still have a long way to go. The reality of traffic congestion compels us to consider structural policies such as congestion pricing and to learn from successful experiences in other cities around the world, such as New York and London. To win this battle, we need a combination of carrots and sticks. We must also deliver concrete results in freight transport, including maritime and air transport. Although the decarbonization in these sectors may seem distant today, our ambition must remain high in this regard. Chile is betting on producing green hydrogen, with the first projects already moving forward. But as we face this decade of sustainable transport, we must approach it as something broader than just decarbonization. Sustainable transport also demands smart urban planning that enables people to conveniently access essential services. It's also about improving road safety so we can stop counting deaths and tragedies on our roads. And it is too a golden opportunity to deliver a better quality of life and better health, both physical and mental, because our cities are sick from excessive car use and it is our duty to take action to heal them. Finally, I want to share my conviction that as transport ministers, Our message will only be credible if we live by it. Let me invite— if we invite our citizens to use public transport or bicycles while we are sitting on the back seat of a car, the message gets heard. If possible, let us use public transport and bicycles with pride daily. This experience will allow us to identify opportunities for improvement and empathize with their users. This consistency between our message and our daily practice gives our words legitimacy and will become the spark needed to imagine reflection among every member of the community about their own troubled choices. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Minister Moniz, for sharing a very comprehensive picture how Chilean people, Chilean government has demonstrated to transform the sustainable transport in your great country and also your determination to further pursue your strategy. Thank you. Now that I have the pleasure to invite His Excellency, Mr. Apsarta Selgabaev, Minister of Transport and Communication.

Thank you, Mr. President. Dear me, Legion Hua, Mr. Lok Bahadur Tapa, dear distinguished ministers, distinguished representatives of international organizations, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Minister of Transport and Communication of the Kyrgyz Republic, allow me to express Our sign is gratitude to the United Nations for inviting the first-ever UN Decade for Sustainable Transport 2026-2035, which opens a new chapter in global transport cooperation. The Kyrgyz Republic highly appreciates the efforts of United Nations to promote safe, accessible, environmentally friendly, and efficient transport systems, which constitutes the foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. For landlocked developing countries such as ours, issues of sustainable, connected, and digital transport infrastructure are not only elements of economic growth, but also of social development, integration, and renaissance. Kyrgyzstan is consistently advancing policies aimed at modernizing and greening the transport as well as developing new transport corridors. For your information, in recent years, the Kyrgyz Republic has demonstrated positive macroeconomic dynamics. The growth of business activity, strengthening of financial stability, and improvement of the investment climate have largely resulted from the government-balanced and consistent economic policy. Thanks to these measures, while foreign investment previously accounted for about 80% of the transport sector, today it stands at 20%, and the remaining financing needs for infrastructure projects are covered by the national We are investing in the reconstruction of roads, improving their safety and resilience to climate risks, especially in mountainous regions. Projects aimed at strengthening internal and regional connectivity are expanding, including the construction of tunnels and bridges to ensure year-round transport links. Kyrgyzstan actively supports the development of new international transport corridors and logistics chains. Of particular significance is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, which is expected to become a key link in the Eurasian multimodal network and provide a sustainable and time-efficient route for cargo flows. We are also developing infrastructure for electric transport environmentally friendly buses and introduction digital solutions for— to optimize urban mobility and reduce harmful emissions. To conduct a coordination transport policy in the Eurasian region, the Kyrgyz Republic has efficiently joined the main UN Economic Commission transport agreements. In addition, the Kyrgyz Republic actively participates in UN sectoral programs such as PECA and CPEP. Kyrgyzstan reaffirms its readiness to strengthen its regulatory framework in line with international agreements in the field of transport and trade, to expand cooperation with UN bodies and other organizations on the development of green logistics, low-emission transport, and sustainable urban mobility. We are also interested in developing international partnerships for financing sustainable transport projects, from the construction of railway and logistics hubs to the introduction of low-carbon technologies. Distinguished colleagues, in today's world, sustainable transport is not only part of economic policy, but also a key element of the climate agenda and global supply chain security. The quality of transport systems determines the development of trade, tourism, integration connectivity, and resistance to crises. Kyrgyzstan is convinced that only through international cooperation, technology exchange, and joint planning of transport corridors and digital solutions can we achieve tangible results within the of sustainable transport. We call on our partners to increase support for developing countries, especially landlocked developing countries, in improving access to investment technologies and innovations. We also consider it essential to strengthen the role of UN transport divisions in developing advanced and effective transport standards, and we are concerned about the upcoming staff reductions within the UN. We hope that it will be possible to preserve the personnel and their initiatives following their performance. In turn, the Kyrgyz Republic expressed its readiness to assist and participate in the efforts of the General Assembly and Security Council to ensure a stable world order, enabling all parties to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Based on these considerations, the Kyrgyz Republic has put forward its candidacy for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-28 term. I would like to emphasize this would be the first time in our country's history to serve on Security Council. The Kyrgyz Republic is among more than 60 countries that have Never been members of council. We firmly believe that all member states should have an equal right to elected to Security Council. The election of Kyrgyz Republic would demonstrate the political will of the international community to address historical imbalance and to ensure greatness, equal opportunities for all states to serve the key organ of the United Nations system. Security Council. We are confident that joint actions will allow transport to become not only a tool for development but also a factor of long-term sustainability and prosperity for our nation. Thank you for attention.

Thank you very much, Minister Syagabayev, for sharing how Kyrgyzstan or Kyrgyz Republic advancing your strategy, especially on the transport corridor, and also sharing your commitment to partner with all stakeholders in advancing the sustainable transport. I now would like to invite His Excellency Mr. Yang Kuo-cheng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. President, allow me on behalf of the Minister and other members of government in your respective name, quality, and status— Traduction is being done. Allow me on behalf of the government of the Republic of Senegal and His Excellency the President of the Republic, Bassiri Jomai Jahad Faye, as well as Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, to thank the United Nations for this major initiative and to thank the USG for DESA for his invitation to Senegal. The launch of the Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035 is not merely a symbolic milestone. It is a call for profound change, a call to rethink our transport systems, our mobility models, and even more, the way our nations envision the future. To more responsibility, to more innovation, and above all, to even more and more equity. The challenges are not the same for all countries. African nations in particular face a structural paradox. The energy transition in transport must be contextual, differentiated, just, and realistic to be real— to be achievable. It must allow each country to move forward at a pace compatible with its technological, financial, and structural infrastructural capacities. It must allow to each country to achieve its goals, taking into account its differences. This is the message that Senegal has carried for several years, a message we reaffirm here in New York with force. Guided by the Vision Senegal 2050, a strategy for land planning and systemic transformation Our country has undertaken a profound reform of its transport system in line with strategic objectives of its new referential document, meaning to develop a sustainable multimodal sovereign and integrated transport system. Dakar is now the home of the first 100% electrical bus rapid transit in West Africa. an infrastructure that is modern, efficient, and green, that symbolizes the mobility of tomorrow. Our country also launched the Regional Express Train, which connects Dakar to its suburbs and operates on electricity. Since its commission in January 2030— 2023, the Regional Express has reduced Senegal's carbon footprint 1,692.6 tons of CO2 equivalent. Starting in 2016, 318 CNG buses will further strengthen a controlled energy transition adapted to the realities of African urban centers. These choices combine environmental performance, accessibility, and operational sustainability. Moreover, renewing the vehicle fleet— taxis, intercity vehicles, coaches, and trucks— has become a major pillar of economic performance, emissions reduction, and road safety. Each life saved Mr. President, you said it earlier in your speech, each life saved strengthens the resilience of our system. Safety lies at the heart of our sustainability. Mr. President, dear colleagues, we therefore call for more balanced international cooperation, one that is more oriented toward technology transfer, appropriate financing, and concrete results for populations. That will be the first beneficial and needed. Without this, the Decade of Sustainable Transport will not be able to fulfill its promise for all nations. The 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games that Senegal has the honor to host and celebrate Even more, the Africa Africa will celebrate and Dakar will host provide a unique opportunity to assess the progress achieved and above all to ensure fluid, secure mobility that meets the standard of such an event. The structural investment undertaken for this event will have lasting effects. They will significantly improve. Travel conditions during the Games but also well beyond. Mr. President, the Decade of Sustainable Transport offers us a unique opportunity, an opportunity to rethink our choices, to overcome inertia, and to build a world in which mobility connects rather than divides, a world where mobility is empowers rather than excludes, a world where mobility protects rather than degrades, a world where mobility is a source of equity other than inequities. Senegal is taking its full share— is taking its full share resolutely, and we stand ready to work with all nations in a spirit of solidarity, justice, and innovation. Thank you very much for your kind attention. And we say you— George, the speaker says thank you in his mother tongue.

Thank you, Minister Deem, for your remarks and then also bringing attention to the structural challenges faced by Africa, African continent, and also we heard clearly and loudly the call from you to advance or to initiate and advance a more balanced international cooperation to ensure that sustainability on transport could really transform the lives for the ordinary people, and they would certainly benefit from this transformation. Thank you again, Minister. Our last speaker of the high-level segment could not unfortunately join us in person at the end, but we are very much appreciative to Brazil's concerted efforts to highlight sustainable transport at this year's UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, just concluded recently in Berlin. We will now show the video remarks by Mr. Cláudio Benavides, Undersecretary for Sustainability of the Ministry of Transport of Brazil. Please.

Mr. President, Excellency, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ministers, Chiefs of Delegation, distinguished representatives of organizations, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor É um prazer enorme que saúda essa importante assembleia em nome do Ministério dos Transportes do Brasil. Permita-me nesse momento expressar o meu profundo respeito e gratidão aos ilustres colegas que me precederam nas falas. Agradeço igualmente a todos os envolvidos pela organização desse lançamento oficial da Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável 2026-2035. Como país sede da COP30, realizada com sucesso em Belém do Pará, o Brasil tem a responsabilidade e alegria de conectar os compromissos climáticos assumidos na Amazônia Senhoras e senhores, a década que iniciaremos hoje não é apenas um marco no calendário. É um instrumento estratégico que faltava para alinhar de forma coerente e mensurável os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável, o Acordo de Paris e as necessidades reais de bilhões de pessoas que dependem de transportes seguros, acessíveis e de baixas emissões. Na COP30, o mundo reconheceu que não haverá transição climática justa sem uma revolução no setor de transportes, responsável por quase um quarto das emissões globais de gases de efeito estufa. Belém foi o momento em que passamos das palavras aos compromissos concretos de descarbonização, resiliência e inclusão. Exatamente nesse espírito que o Brasil, enquanto líder emergente e ponte entre o Sul Global e o Norte Global, apresenta hoje uma nota conceitual que conecta diretamente os avanços da COP30 à Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável da ONU. Permita-me lê-la na íntegra. A COP30 em Belém é um momento decisivo para alinhar metas climáticas e avançar em direção a uma mobilidade sustentável e resiliente. O transporte, pilar fundamental do desenvolvimento, deve se tornar eficiente, resiliente e com baixas emissões de GES. O Ministério dos Transportes do Brasil, a Confederação Nacional dos Transportes, a ANT, o Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, o CEBEX, a Organização Mundial do Transporte Rodoviário, a OMT, a Coalizão para a Infraestrutura Resiliente de Desastre, CDRRI, e a ISOCAT uniram esforços, forças para apresentar uma Declaração Conjunta da Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável 2026-2035 e seu alinhamento com a agenda da COP30. Governos nacionais, organizações, instituições financeiras, setor privado, academia e a sociedade civil são convidados a apoiar a declaração a partir desse lançamento em 10 de dezembro de 2025 na sede das Nações Unidas em Nova York. Essa aliança inédita que reúne governo, confederações empresariais, organizações internacionais e sociedade civil brasileira e global reflete o modelo de cooperação mútua que o Brasil sempre defendeu. E é com orgulho que apresento agora o texto integral da declaração conjunta, no qual desejamos o endosso dos países e instituições. Declaração conjunta sobre a Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável 2026-2035, alinhamento com a agenda da COP30. Nós, governos nacionais e demais interessadas, incluindo organizações internacionais, instituições financeiras e filantrópicas, entidades do setor privado, academia e organizações da sociedade civil, reunidos em apoio à 30ª Conferência das Partes da Convenção-Quadro das Nações Unidas sobre Mudança do Clima, COP30, realizada em Belém, Brasil, declaramos nosso compromisso conjunto em concretizar a Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável como marco estratégico para acelerar a descarbonização e a transformação equitativa do setor Recognize that COP is a crucial moment to integrate climate goals immediately with ambitions of medium and long term, aimed at sustainable mobility, resilience, and inclusion. Recognize that transport is the base of social and economic prosperity, connecting communities and businesses through mobility and logistics that are secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible. Reaffirm that transport is a pillar essential to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and the goals of the de Paris, sendo vital promover políticas, investimentos e parcerias que reduzam emissões, ampliem o acesso e impulsionem a inovação tecnológica. Comprometemo-nos a integrar políticas e legislações nacionais e institucionais aos 6 pilares estratégicos da década: acesso equitativo para todos, baixa emissão de carbono e resiliência, eficiência logística, mobilidade urbana centrada nas pessoas, transporte seguro e protegido, e ciência, tecnologia e inovação. Fomentar a cooperação internacional inclusiva para mobilizar recursos financeiros e técnicos, fortalecendo as capacidades dos países em desenvolvimento e das novas economias. Estimular inovação sustentável neutra em tecnologia e a digitalização como motores de eficiência e transparência na gestão dos transportes. Promover investimentos responsáveis e justos alinhados à justiça climática e à neutralidade de carbono. Incentivar a ratificação e implementação das Convenções das Nações Unidas relacionadas aos transportes, como a Convenção TIF, conforme destacado nas resoluções da Assembleia Geral da ONU que instituíram a Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável. Apoiar a capacitação, desenvolvimento de competências, a criação de ferramentas baseadas em evidências e a troca de boas práticas sobre soluções inovadoras que acelerem a adoção de tecnologias e práticas de transporte sustentável. Valorizar o papel da ciência e do conhecimento local, ampliando o intercâmbio de dados, experiências e métodos Que sustentem uma transição guiada por evidências. Ao apoiar esses princípios, o transporte global se tornará até 2035 um catalisador da prosperidade compartilhada, justiça social e sustentabilidade duradoura. Essa declaração constitui um marco de cooperação e ação concreta, estabelecendo a Década das Nações Unidas para o Transporte Sustentável como uma ponte entre os compromissos climáticos da COP30 e um futuro de mobilidade transformadora. Senhoras e senhores, convidamos vivamente todos os estados-membros das Nações Unidas, organizações internacionais, instituições financeiras, setor privado, academia e sociedade civil a endossarem essa declaração conjunta. Não se trata de mais um documento, trata-se de um roteiro coletivo que transformará o transporte mundial até 2035 em motor de prosperidade compartilhada, justiça social e sustentabilidade duradoura. O Brasil, com a força de sua biodiversidade, a energia das suas renováveis e a determinação do seu povo está pronto para liderar, pelo exemplo, e para cooperar com todos, sem exceção. Porque quando o transporte se torna sustentável, o planeta inteiro avança. Muito obrigado.

Thank you, Mr. Benavides. Well, Excellencies, distinguished participants, dear colleagues, that concludes our high-level segment this morning. I would like to thank all of our distinguished high-level speakers for your insights, guidance as we embarked on the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. In our next segment, we will feature a showcase of the sustainable transport action commitments, very ambitious commitments made by sustainable transport actors from around the world. Well, for the next segment, I would give the floor to Ms. Astrid Bonini, Chief of the Integrated Policy Analysis in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals of the UNDESA, to moderate the discussions and the very important session. Now that I would like to invite speakers to take the podium. Thank you.

Thank you, Thank you very much, Under-Secretary-General. We will just take a brief moment to resettle the podium, and then we'll resume the programming. Thank you. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to moderate this next session of the program, which showcases some of the ambitious sustainable transport action commitments that we have received under the umbrella of the UN Decade. To kickstart the UN Decade with tangible action, our department opened a call this fall to member states and other stakeholders for voluntary commitments. I am pleased to let you know that we have received 83 commitments coming from all around the world and representing all modes of transport. We are absolutely delighted to showcase some of these today at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. And we thank all of the organizations that are contributing to making the decade one of concrete action. As our first speaker, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Joe Kramick, the Chief Executive Officer of the World Shipping Council, who will present a major industry commitment to accelerate decarbonization of the global shipping industry. The sector has committed $150 billion to build over 1,000 fossil fuel container vehicle carrier ships by 2030, designed to operate in low and zero emission fields. Mr. Kramick, you have the floor.

Thank you. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the privilege of speaking at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. The World Shipping Council, which I represent, has more than 90% of the world's global container and vehicle carriers in its membership. Close your eyes for a moment. When you hear Decade of Sustainable Transport, what first comes to mind? A bicycle gliding through a city street? An electric car? A bus? Maybe a sleek train? Most of us picture urban mobility, the modes we see every day. But raise your hands if you first thought of a ship. Probably not many people. But here's the truth. Although people don't think about ocean-going container ships or vehicle carriers, thousands of these vessels are at sea right now moving 80% of everything the world needs— food, clothing, medicines, and the electronics and toys many of us will gift this holiday season. Shipping connects the world. Over decades, global ocean trade has opened markets, created jobs, and lifted living standards, steadily improving efficiency and global connectivity. In fact, the World Trade Organization consistently emphasizes that access to low-cost global ocean freight is a critical enabler of export growth, market access, and economic development for least developed countries. Liner shipping is the ocean link that connects all nations, and this connection has done more to benefit least and lesser developed nations than almost any other global policy initiative. However, like all other modalities in the transport sector represented here today, the ships that make this— these connections are powered by fossil fuels. The transport sector writ large emits about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Shipping, which is the most climate-efficient way to transport large volumes of goods, contributes about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But I have good news to bring to you today. Liner shipping, who I represent, has already taken action with a private investment, as you see above, of more than $150 billion already made to build over 1,000 dual-fuel ships by 2030. Designed to be able to run on low, zero, or near-zero greenhouse gas fuels. More than 300 of these vessels are already on the water as we sit here right now. This is an unprecedented commitment to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. By 2030, these new dual fuel ships will represent at least 25% of the global liner fleet, capable of replacing demand for fossil fuels with renewable alternatives. Liner Ship is investing now because we want to realize the potential these ships have to reduce emissions. But here's the pivotal point: this transformation depends on the availability of green marine fuels at commercially viable cost. Today, they remain scarce and they cost 3 to 5 times more than traditional fossil fuels. That's the economic reality we must overcome together. So how do we unlock supply at scale and price parity? We need to give producers a clear business case, and uniquely in our sector, governments can do this in one fell swoop. You, with global regulation through the United Nations International Maritime Organization. This decade is our moment to act. Experience shows that fragmented national or regional schemes increase costs for citizens without materially accelerating the fuel transition. We'll pay more and still fail to decarbonize, and we must avoid that trap. Our commitment, the ships that we have ordered, and the capital that we have invested shows that industry is ready to move. Now we hope to encourage nations to grasp the economic opportunity the energy transition of shipping represents. Shipping's energy transition can be your economic opportunity. Let me return to where I began. The United Nations' Decade of Sustainable Transport must also include global ocean shipping. That connects the blue arteries that carry 80% of global trade. If we make marine fuels available and affordable, these ships now on order and on the water will displace fossil fuel demand at scale, cutting emissions across global supply chains. The World Shipping Council and its members are committed, invested, and ready, and with your support, we can decarbonize a global industry efficiently and keep trade moving for communities everywhere. This is how we can make the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport truly impactful. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. Crimack, and certainly we recognize that all modes of transport will be instrumental to the success of the decade, so thank you for recognizing the commitments that the shipping industry will be making. We will now have as our next speaker Mr. Humberto de Preto, Secretary-General of the International Road Transport Union, who will introduce the IRU Green Compact. Mr. de Preto, over to you.

Thank you very much, Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I want to begin by echoing what has already been said about what we're really trying to achieve here, and it is sustainable development. If we go back to 1992, Agenda 21, the Rio Summit basically said what is sustainable development, that is economic development, social equity, environmental protection, but you cannot have social equity, environmental protection unless you have economic development. It's fundamental and every mode will be necessary for that, as much as the shipping will be important, all of our ships, rail, air. But I would argue that out of all those modes that need to be sustainable and efficient, unless you have efficient road transport, you will not be able to get whatever is grown or manufactured in a very small rural village to market, to the ports, to wherever they need to get to get then around the world. So if you get that wrong, you get everything wrong. I would actually argue that if you get road transport wrong, you cannot achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Yes, including protecting our oceans, and I can discuss this over coffee with you if you wish. So it's fundamental. And because of the importance of road transport in sustainability, the IRU 30 years ago developed the IRU Charter for Sustainable Development, where we then enshrined this into our constitution to make it a constitutional obligation. But with the challenge of CO2, we've developed our Green Compact, and Green Compact is basically saying, how do we achieve zero emissions CO2 neutrality by 2050. And the, the first point is we start today. You don't wait till 2050, push a magic button, and then everything is done where we're carbon neutral by 2050. It starts by doing what we can today. There are 2 ways to do it. One is through efficiency measures. The other is, of course, looking at the tougher part, and that is alternative fuels. And that's the other 50% where we have to work very closely with governments, looking at what is the energy landscape in various countries and seeing how we can get there. But on the efficiency side, what can we do today? I very much commend the Minister of Transport from Brazil to say we have instruments at the UN, such as the TIR Convention, that do allow us to decarbonize. We've seen in Saudi Arabia, between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, we've done measures that we've reduced the CO2 emissions at border crossings by 90% using a UN instrument. 90%. We can train our drivers. By training our drivers, we can reduce by up to 32% our carbon emissions. By using equitrucks, so a tractor and 2 trailers instead of just a tractor and a trailer, we can take one-third of the trucks off the road and therefore reduce our carbon emissions by over 30%. The reasons we're not doing that is because governments are saying, well, we have to protect the railways. But I then would argue Are we here to deal with an existential threat to mankind, and that is CO2 and global warming, or are we here to defend the railways? So once we get our political priorities straight, then we can actually start acting. It's important that the government of Brazil has aligned what has come out of COP30 to what we're trying to achieve here with this decade. I think all in all, if we can just focus on pragmatism, focusing on what can we do today, working hand in hand, working in partnership, We can get it done, and I think the imperative will be let's make certain that through this partnership, instead of talking about this decade of sustainable transport, we start acting, we start doing everything we can today, put it in place. We're here as IRU to work with you to ensure that we can achieve this already starting today, reducing where we can by 50%, and then working hand in hand with governments to achieve the tougher part, and then that is the alternative fuels. With that, I'll say thank you very much. Thank you. and look forward to working with all of you. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. DiPretto, and really for underlining the multi-stakeholder approach to commercial road transport and decarbonization. Much appreciated. I would now like to give the floor to Mr. Nicolas Pelletier-Thiberg, the Global Director for Transport at the World Bank. who will present the work of the Global Facility to Decarbonize Transport. You have the floor.

Thank you, Excellencies, colleagues, and partners. It's an honor to speak at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. And let me begin with a story. In 2023, my team at the World Bank met Beata Mrema, a mother in Kilimara, just outside Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. She relies on public transport to send her children to school, and manage daily life. Before the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit, her commute took hours. Now it's just 45 minutes, a change that means a safer, happier life for her and her family. For Beata and millions like her, the way we design transport systems shapes how people live, work, and dream. It determines whether they can access education, jobs, and essential services, or if they are excluded from opportunities. Today, as we launch the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to rewrite stories like Beata's, especially in low- and middle-income countries where transport demand is rising fastest. The choices we make now will shape lives for decades to come. Despite the benefits modern transport brings, systems are often not well planned. They prioritize cars over people, lead to pollution, congestion, unsafe conditions, and inequality. The Decades Implementation Plan calls on us to break with the past and design transport as a social system, one that puts affordability, accessibility, economic development, and equity at its core. Multilateral development banks, including the World Bank Group, have mobilized over $230 billion in transport financing from 2015 to 2024, and I would like to thank my colleagues from other MDBs for the excellent collaboration. I'm very pleased that we issued a joint statement reaffirming our commitment to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Last year alone, the World Bank committed over $11 billion to transport, with more than 65% delivering climate co-benefits. This means building roads that withstand floods, shifting daily trips from private cars to public transport, and creating ports that are digitized, less polluting, and more efficient. A key factor in turning our vision into action is the Global Facility to Decarbonize Transport, or GFDT. In 2024, with just $6.4 million in targeting grants, GFDT catalyzed $400 million in approved World Bank transport decarbonization finance, with another $1.4 billion expected. These investments are transforming urban mobility, putting clean, reliable electric buses on the road, reducing emissions, and making daily commutes safer and healthier for millions. In Benin, a GFDT grant supporting the Grand Nokoué Sustainable Urban Mobility Project This transformative program will electrify 65,000 mototaxis and build a local e-mobility ecosystem. This initiative is expected to create around 37,000 jobs, many for youth and women, and position Benin as a hub for e-mobility in West Africa. Yesterday, I was in Senegal and I had the pleasure of riding the Dakar BRT, a new, efficient, clean, and safe public transport system that will make hundreds of thousands of jobs accessible within an hour of commute. And I would like to congratulate the Minister of Transport of Senegal for this remarkable achievement. As a voluntary commitment and with more resources, GFDT can do even more, helping countries prioritize investments, mobilize finance, advance policy reforms, and develop the skills and workforce needed for clean transport technologies. The decade is our shared delivery agenda. The role of the Global Facility to Decarbonize Transport is to turn commitments into country programs, programs into finance, and finance into results: cleaner air, safer streets, inclusive access, and resilient networks. With shared purpose and coordinating action, including the joint statement of support from all the MDBs, we can deliver transport systems that are accessible, safe, efficient, resilient, and low or zero carbon, getting people like Beata access to the opportunities they deserve. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. Pelttia-Thiberg. And really, the partnership with the multilateral development banks will be so instrumental for the the success of the decade, and we look forward to the impacts that the GFT will be able to have on people's lives. We now welcome Ms. Marusha Kardama, the Secretary-General of SLOCAT, who will present their commitment to develop a monitoring and reporting platform. Over to you.

Thanks very much, Esther. Excellencies, colleagues. Thank you. Excellencies, colleagues, good morning. Thanks for having SLOCA today. Today we are recognizing that we cannot achieve inclusive prosperity on a livable planet unless we transform the way in which we move people and goods. We gather today to commit to enabling effective transport solutions at scale. Equipping decision-makers and practitioners with the knowledge they need to act is central to achieving meaningful advances in the decade ahead. Decisions on transport policies, investments, and solutions by governments and by other actors who shape transport systems will determine whether economies can grow and communities become more inclusive in a resilient manner, while reducing health and climate-damaging emissions. With many transport systems in low- and middle-income countries still developing, effective and context-adapted solutions are decisive to avoid inefficient investments and costly retrofit. To translate our collective ambition into meaningful progress, we need a strong foundation of science-based data and knowledge. Slocat has long made it a priority to equip decision-makers and practitioners with data and knowledge at the crossroads of social justice, climate, sustainability, and transport. Our blueprint has always been to co-create knowledge, to combine multidisciplinary expertise and build robust, collaborative evidence and tools. At the heart of this work is the Transport, Climate and Sustainability Global Status Report, the GSR. In its 4 editions since 2018, the GSR has gathered more than 300 experts from over 200 organizations to deliver on this approach. Today, Slocat is proud to commit this work in direct support to the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. The 4th edition of the GSR, which was launched this year, raised awareness on the opportunities associated to the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. From the next edition onwards, our commitment is to contribute the GSR to the collective efforts for knowledge-driven monitoring of progress in the framework of the UN Decade. Monitoring progress will be essential to ensure that the UN Decade becomes a compass for the positive transformation of transport systems and remains focused, responsible and accountable. This is why, early next year, SLoCaT, the Climate Compatible Growth and the UN Economic Commission for Europe jointly with other partners, will convene a technical workshop to facilitate collective discussions on how best to monitor and track progress on the Decade's Implementation Plan. Furthermore, between GSR editions, SLOCAR also aims to conduct transport stocktakes to inform the regular Global Stocktake on the Implementation of the Paris Agreement in 2018 and 2033, and to feed these directly into the ongoing implementation of the UN Decade. decade. Scaling up reliable and open-access data and capacities, particularly in countries with limited resources, will be critical to both enabling and monitoring progress. Existing initiatives, such as the Transport Data Commons, offer an important basis for multi-actor collaboration in this area. This is why we will also integrate SLoCaT's Open Transport Knowledge Base, TRAKb, into the Transport Data Commons. Distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, This is a decade of urgency and also of extraordinary opportunity. Aligning transport transformations with social inclusion, economic development, decarbonization, energy transition, and resilience will unlock innovation, investment, and shared prosperity worldwide. Our commitment in Slocart is to work with both longstanding and new partners to ensure that this decade also becomes one of measurable progress grounded in science-based knowledge, driven by multi-actor of partnerships and aligned with the need to act faster, bolder, and more effectively to meet the needs of our communities, of our economies, and of our planet. Many thanks.

Thank you, Ms. Cardama, and I'm very much appreciating Slocat's contributions to ensuring that the progress during the decade is driven by science-based tools and and evidence, so looking forward to the GSR. We now turn to Mr. Hui Shi, the Deputy Director-General of the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Centre. The Centre has made 3 ambitious commitments, and we very much look forward to hearing about these. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms. Bonini, for giving me the floor. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. It is my great honor to speak at this historical event representing the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center, a global platform for transport cooperation. I'm delighted to share one of our initiatives to support this vital UN Decade, which is called the Transport Sustainability Framework. This initiative stems from a pivotal question: How can we translate the concept of sustainable transport from abstract principles into concrete practices and into tangible projects and operations? To answer this question, we have developed a systemic transport sustainability framework. It embeds the UN's sustainability principles into every stage of a transport project's lifecycle, from investment planning to construction and long-term operation, ensuring sustainability is not just an afterthought but a guiding force. It is like an ESG framework tailored exclusively for transport sector. So what are the solutions provided? First, we have created a specialized assessment and reporting tool for transport sustainability, ensuring full life cycle sustainability of transport projects. Second, we will launch and establish global pilot and model projects and build the brand of Global Sustainable Transport, GST, to amplify the visibility of the UN Decade. Third, we will collect and scale successful practices from these projects, enabling global replication and expansion. So what are the impacts? We will deliver many concrete sustainable transport projects and foster an influential brand of global sustainable transport and empower the UN Decade with tangible achievement. Our first Pilot project, which is the Xi'an Metro project. Xi'an Metro pioneers the first full life cycle sustainability assessment and reporting, seamlessly integrating the modern metro infrastructure with the cultural heritage of the ancient capital. So in this book, it captures the good practice of Xi'an Metro in relation to the transport sustainability. And this July, we have successfully launched the 2025 Global Sustainable Transport Good Practices. Today, we are excited to open the 2026 edition call for recommendations. So therefore, we will Welcome all partners here to join us to share your success stories. So this is a leaflet for the Global Sustainable Transport Good Practices. So I firmly believe that together we can make the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport a great success. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Shi, and also for the recognition that peer learning and knowledge sharing will be such an important part of the decade and for advancing this with the good practices. Our next speaker represents the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. I am pleased to give the floor to Mr. Ángel Cardenas Sosa, the General Manager for Infrastructure for Development of the Bank. You have the floor.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, fellow panelists, friends, it's an honour to take the floor on behalf of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, at the launch of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. For our region, transport is not an abstract agenda. It is how a nurse gets to a hospital down in Bogotá, Caracas, Santiago de Chile, or any other Latin American city. It's how a small farmer reaches a port in Ecuador, how a young woman in the outskirts of Lima accesses her first formal job. Transport is the backbone of productivity, of regional integration, of sustainable inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet we all know this backbone is under severe strain. In our region, transport systems still face high logistic costs, congestions, and gaps in connectivity that limit competitiveness. At the same time, transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and our infrastructure increasingly exposed to floods, landslides, storms, and other climate impacts that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. This is why the decision of the General Assembly to declare the first-ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport starting in 2026, is so timely. It rightly recognizes transport as an enabler of many Sustainable Development Goals, from decent work and economic growth to sustainable cities, gender equality, and climate action. And it is now supported by an implementation plan that gives us a common roadmap for the next 10 years. Against this backdrop, Latin America and the Caribbean face 4 major transitions at once. First, the productivity and competitiveness transition. Modern, well-coordinated transport is essential to reduce logistic costs, integrate regional and global value chains, and generate quality jobs. Without efficient corridors connecting our cities, ports, rural areas, and industrial hubs, our companies and our workers will simply not be able to compete. Second, The green and climate transition. We must decarbonize, and I repeat, we must decarbonize our transport systems and make them more resilient. That means cleaner public transport, better rail and mass transit, support for active mobility, and infrastructure designed for a changing climate, especially in vulnerable coastal and mountainous areas. Third, the inclusion transition. Transport is how we close historic gaps between urban cores and peripheries, between large capitals and small towns, between men and women, between those who can afford a car and those who depend on public transport or walking. A sustainable transport agenda in our region must be, above all, a social and a territorial cohesion agenda. And fourth, the digital transition. New technologies from intelligent transport systems and big data to digital payments and real-time information can make our networks safer, more efficient, and more transparent while reducing their carbon footprints, but only if we ensure that innovation is inclusive and accessible. CAF in the last decade have approved around $14.4 billion for transport projects, making it sector with the highest volume of approval in our institutions. These operations span urban mobility system, road rehabilitation and rural access, regional logistic corridors and border crossings, and resilient infrastructure adaptivities, communities and ecosystem. An example of this is how CAF has financed 20% of the new paved roads in Bolivia. Today, in alignment with the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport, we are ready to go further. CAF is pledging to mobilize $18 billion in sustainable transport investment between 2026 and 2035, an average of $1.8 billion per year. This represents a 25% increase in our annual transport approvals compared with the last decades. Our pledge rests on 4 concrete pillars. The first one is a financing commitment. With this investment, we will support projects that drive decarbonization, sustainable urban mobility, cleaner public transport, modern and safe road and rail infrastructure, and low-carbon logistics connectivity across borders. The second, mobilizing and leveraging resources. We will deepen partnerships with other development banks and global initiatives, using co-financing, blending, and technical cooperation to scale transformative solutions and maximize impact per dollar invested. Third, facilitating project preparation and implementation. We will establish a regional pre-investment facility and complementary instruments to accelerate the structuring of high-quality, sustainable projects strengthen local capacities, and reduce preparation times while aligning with green taxonomies and national climate commitments. Fourth, positioning transport as a cross-cutting enabler of sustainable development. We will actively advocate for transport role in achieving SDGs 5, 8, 9, and 11 and 13, and we will continue to generate knowledge and support policies that put our people, and especially the most vulnerable, at the center of mobility system. This is just— this is just not just about numbers. It is about how we design our cities, how we connect our regions, and how we ensure that the green and digital transitions are fair for workers, users, and territories. It is about moving from isolated pilot projects to systemic transformations, from a few electric buses to entire high-quality fleets and integrated corridors. From individual road segments to resilience network, from fragmented databases to regional observatories of mobility and emissions. Excellencies, in line with our path to become the green and inclusion bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, through this pledge we are saying clearly we are ready to be a long-term partner for countries, cities, and communities that want to transform how people and goods move, and in doing so, transform the development path. We invite governments, international partners, the private sector, academia, and civil society to join forces in this decade of sustainable transport. The implementation plan is there, the technologies exist, the resources can be mobilized if we design sound projects and credible policies. The moment to act is now. Transforming transport is not only about building roads, railways, or bus lines. It is about connecting people, territories, and opportunities in a way that is fair, resilient, and compatible with the limits of our planet. CAF stands ready to do its part. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Sosa, and really for the breadth of the projects that CAF is supporting, but also for highlighting Thank you. It's fascinating how sustainable transport links to all pillars of sustainable development and all of the SDGs. This concludes our first set of panelists who will be showcasing their sustainable transport action commitments. We do have such a wealth of contributions and commitments in the room, we will now move to have another— a second panel showcasing voluntary commitments. But I would just like to thank all of the organizations and speakers on the podium for the commitments that they have just made. Thank you. Thanks, Karen. We welcome our next set of speakers to the podium and are very much looking forward to hearing all about the different commitments that they bring and their organizations bring. We will first welcome Ms. Ambimbola Akinajo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and Chair of UITP Africa, who will present UITP's commitment to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Ms. Akinajo, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. My name is Abimbola Akinjo, Chairperson, Africa Division, International Association of Public Transport, UITP. We all know that UN Decades are established only for the world's most urgent global challenges. UITP is not simply expressing support for the Decade, we're making concrete and actionable commitments that will directly advance it. Placing public transport as the backbone of this decade will deliver universal access to sustainable, low-carbon, resilient mobility for millions for decades to come. Half of urban citizens still lack access to public transport today. This is a social equity emergency. This is not a policy gap, but also a development and financing gap. The UN Decade for Sustainable Transport ensures this challenge remains on the global agenda, focusing us to translate ambition into implementation and concrete action. UITP's comments— commitments focus on 2 essential levers: that will directly contribute to the success of the decade: awareness and capacity. First, we will raise global awareness of the transformative role of public transport. Second, we will build the capacity of public transport professionals to deliver change for the better. To achieve this, UITP will launch the World Public Transport Day on April 17th, beginning in 2026. This day will elevate public transport in the global conversation each year in every region and every community, powered by UITP's 2,000 members in 100 countries. Messages will be visible across metros, buses, trams, and stations worldwide, from Australia Africa, to the Americas, and everywhere in between. The day will serve as a critical milestone to achieving the UN Decades Goal by empowering people, especially the young, to make meaningful impact through their daily mobility choices and by mobilizing action through showcasing innovation and success. Now we know Awareness alone doesn't build public transport. People do. Awareness cannot by itself build networks, modernize fleets, or redesign streets. These transformations require trained, skilled, and empowered people. The UN has emphasized that scaling capacity is one of the greatest contributions a UN decade can make. UITP is therefore committing to double its professional development efforts throughout the decade and train more than 20,000 public transport professionals worldwide. Over 100,000 hours of capacity building will be delivered, with priority for fast-growing cities and emerging economies. These hours represent the development of the next generation of leaders planners, engineers, operators, and policymakers who will design and deliver tomorrow's public transport systems, which will move millions of people toward opportunities, clean air, safer streets, and a healthier climate. These are not just symbolic gestures; they are transformative contributions to implementing the decade. UITP's commitment respond directly to the needs of people, cities, and countries worldwide. Through these actions, UITP will help deliver the human capacity, technical expertise, and global awareness required to realize the ambitions of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport now and for decades to come. Thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you, Ms. Akinjo, for presenting on behalf of UITP and also for the commitment to capacity building and training the next generation of transport leaders. That's very exciting. Our next speaker will be Mr. Daniel Bogart, the Program Director for Transport and Climate Change at the German Agency for International Cooperation. and GIZ. We look forward to hearing about GIZ's commitments.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and partners, it's a great honour to speak today on behalf of GIZ here at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. I think this decade is really an opportunity to provide just mobility for all, to ease the movement of goods and to set transport on a zero-emission pathway. I think we can only meet this ambition by investing in research, in data, and in people. And therefore, GIZ is proud to join 3 voluntary commitments supporting the Decade's Implementation Plan. First, research. We are honoured to contribute to the UK Government's commitment on Research for Infrastructure in Developing Economies, RIDE. Applied research is vital to ensure that policymakers take bold decisions and deliver lasting development gains. RIDE will enhance research on transport systems that are resilient, equitable, and sustainable. It will focus on how Better transport fosters economic growth, enables trade, and can cut emissions. We are pleased to coordinate this programme on behalf of FCDO and in partnership with the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and we are keen to implement it together with WRI and TRL. Secondly, data. GRZ is also committed to advancing the Transport Data Commons initiative. Reliable, accessible, and interoperable data are essential for research and for evidence-based policymaking. Yet in many low- and middle-income countries, transport data remain fragmented, inconsistent, or simply not collected. Organizations use different indicators and methods, and many results are locked in static PDFs or scattered across platforms with minimal metadata. The Transport Data Commons initiative offers a collaborative response to this challenge. It brings together the development agencies, research institutions, IFIs, and civil society to share transport data and jointly improve data practices. Specifically, TDCI will build and maintain an open platform providing access to shared datasets. It will strengthen data quality through open tools and guidance, and it will ease progress tracking under the Decade's Implementation Plan. Funding from Germany and the UK was instrumental to build the TDC Data Portal, but hundreds of hours of in-kind contributions of researchers involved have filled the Data Portal with life. It now not only links to existing sources, but enables all of us to publish new datasets under common data standards. And we are proud that UNECE has committed to host the portal, ensuring neutrality and global reach. Finally, capacity building. GRZ is committed to expanding human capacity for a just transport transition. We will scale what we will do for— what we are already doing now for 50 years on behalf of the German government, the European Union and other donors. Research and better data alone cannot transform mobility systems. People can. Through our Mobilise Minds commitment, we will continue to deliver high-quality learning and peer-to-peer exchanges for students and practitioners all across the globe. We will expand multilingual online courses and work with universities and public institutions to embed our open learning materials into curricula. Our goal is to reach 10,000 learners in 5 years and support 200 professionals through guided programmes that build skills, confidence, and long-term institutional capability. Excellencies, achieving the ambitions on this decade requires research, shared data, and strong human capacity. Through RIDE, through the Data Commons, and through Mobilise Minds, GRZ stands ready to work with all partners to help deliver transport systems that are zero emission, people-centered, just, and resilient. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bongard, for highlighting this important work and focusing on filling some of those gaps both in data and research and capacity in the spaces that it is is needed most. Next, I would like to introduce Mr. James Leather, the Director of the Transport Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Leather will be bringing us the crucial viewpoint from the Asian Development Bank on how to scale up the work during the decade. Over to you.

Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport is a momentous occasion. Transport plays a significant role in development by providing access to education, employment, and social interaction, as well as ensuring the smooth flow of goods across the world. Access is critical for development, but many fall well short of acceptable levels. In Asia and the Pacific, 400 million people fail to meet SDG 9.1.1, on rural access, and 1.4 billion people fail to meet SDG 11.2 on urban transport access. Significant investment is required in the transport sector to close this infrastructure gap. In Asia and the Pacific, this is estimated to be $2.7 trillion annually, or around 2% of regional GDP. Congestion and emissions, both local and global. In Asia, we are starting to see a decoupling of economic growth and CO2 emissions from the transport sector. The transport sector has always been and remains a very important aspect of the Asian Development Bank's technical and financial assistance to our developing member countries and private sector clients, amounting to around 25 to 30% of ADB's financial support. In November 2025, last month, the ADB Charter was amended to enable a 50% increase in lending to more than $36 billion annually to support DMC's efforts in addressing critical development priorities in the region. This additional funding will be used to stimulate innovative and sustainable solutions and crowd in private finance. ADB supports the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Our technical and financial assistance across Asia and the Pacific aims to increase access and connectivity, scale up investments in sustainable, integrated, and inclusive transport systems that are safe, affordable, and leave no one behind. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Leather, and really thank you to the Asian Development Bank for providing both the technical and the financial support that will be instrumental for the decade ahead. And this additional funding, I'm sure, will make a very significant difference in what can be achieved looking forward in the decade. Our following speaker will be Ms. Lucy Anderton, the Director of Sustainability of the International Union of Railways. UIC has made 2 commitments related to some of their upcoming initiatives, and we very much look forward to hearing about them. Over to you, Lucy.

Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, here at the launch of the Decade of Sustainable Transport, the International Union of Railways are here to reaffirm our commitment to the future of rail as a backbone of an inclusive, interconnected and resilient sustainable low-carbon transport system. And really believe that effective efficient transport systems are essential for a truly sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and rail is ready to play its part. We're making a double commitment today to support the implementation of this decade. Firstly, a strategic initiative around climate finance. So it's a climate finance and carbon market access programme for our members, empowering our members to unlock new and innovative sources of finance complementing the traditional public funding for public transport. We'll provide a comprehensive toolbox to help them navigate and participate in carbon markets, access climate finance opportunities, and to develop bankable low-carbon rail projects. Aligned with their national climate commitments and the Paris Agreement. We believe the most important things that railways can do is to move a larger share of goods and people and to take advantage of the most electrified mode of mass transport, collective public transport, and energy-efficient goods logistics. And this programme is designed to catalyse investment into sustainable, inclusive resilient railway infrastructure, particularly in emerging and developing countries. It directly supports the UN Decade's goal of securing more effective and adequate funding and financing for public transport and sustainable transport. Our second initiative is that finance is an important part of the puzzle, but we also need data, like many of our delegates have talked about today. And so at UIC, we're committed to publishing our annual global report. Here is our first one here, very nice. It's a real paper one, also available online. And every year throughout the decade, we will use this report to provide annual insights into the environmental, social, and economic performance of the global rail sector, tracking the contribution it's making to the Implementation Plan against all the objectives. And this report will expand its scope to include additional indicators aligned with the SDGs and the decade's thematic priorities, strengthening its policy relevance, increasing regional coverage and stakeholder engagement, and to serve as a global reference for tackling rail's contribution to sustainable, inclusive, low-carbon transport. So it's really there beyond tracking, it's to reflect how rail is doing its homework and really developing evidence-based understanding of its strengths and areas it needs to work on. Lastly, as chair of the Some for All advocacy group, I want to emphasise we can't achieve these goals without really addressing the massive investment gap, and our position paper for the Foresum for Rail really clearly outlines the need to scale up climate finance from the $300 billion today to the $2 to $3 trillion that we need annually, and the innovative financing mechanisms including carbon markets and strong policy frameworks and collaborative partnerships that we need to make that happen. So these initiatives are not just about UIC, it's about our global membership, it's about our global sustainable community of transport actors gathered here today, and we really believe that as a coalition, as a community, and working together, we can unlock the full potential of development through sustainable transport. And UIC is ready to support you all and play its part. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Anderton and UIC, for both the initiatives around climate finance reporting, and it really does show that the evidence and data that are needed to support the decade will come from the different sectors and regions and really add up to something that can inform the decade moving forward. Our last speaker for this Our next session is Mr. Mark Major of the Kuna Foundation, who will present their commitments for the Sustainable Transport Decade, and we look forward to hearing them. Over to you, Mark.

Thank you. Excellencies, delegates, the Kuna Foundation is a private Swiss foundation working on logistics— logistics education, logistics and climate, logistics and humanitarian response. We are really pleased to see freight transport integrated into the UN Decade Implementation Plan and to see its significant contribution to development and prosperity properly recognized. Almost half of transport is freight transport, but it's too often neglected in discussions of policy, investment, and practice. Sustainable freight transport is key to making global trade more sustainable. Trade connects people physically, economically, and symbolically, and when done well, it brings great benefits to producers and consumers and their communities. Many middle and low-income countries have competitive advantage in the production of certain products like sunshine for fruit or renewable energies, iron ore for steel, but making sure they are connected regionally and internationally through sustainable low-carbon supply chains, we can build a mutually beneficial web of global trade that will benefit millions. But progress is much too slow. We really hope that the decade will help motivate and align the millions of actors, public and private, big and small, and importantly from the demand and supply side, that need to step up and work together to deliver a more sustainable transport system. To contribute to making a success of the UN Decade, the Kuna Foundation is pleased today to announce 2 new specific voluntary commitments. The first on sustainable logistics capacity building. Logistics decisions define the demand for freight transport. Decisions on locations, frequencies, routes, packaging determine the demand and potential for sustainable freight transport. The Kühne Foundation has been providing logistics education for university students and practitioners for many years in Europe and Africa, and we are pleased to announce today a commitment to scale up our sustainable logistics capacity development, principally for individuals from low and middle-income countries, to help equip them with the skills and knowledge to shape sustainable supply chains. We will expand our activities in Africa, Asia, and in Latin America, and this will include 2 new university campuses dedicated to logistics education, one in Africa and one in Latin America. This is a unilateral commitment principally financed from our own resources with support from others we can do more. We are grateful to the support we have already received from Brazil. Next slide, please. The second is a commitment to conduct an annual global sustainable logistics survey of senior logistics decision makers over the next 10 years. The survey will be independent and will be— make the methodology, data, and results publicly available for free. The survey will allow us to track trends over time, compare regions, and understand what is working and why it's— what is not and why. Again, the Foundation is funding the core survey functions and languages for the next 10 years, and professors from our Logistics University will ensure the academic integrity of the work. We invite your support to help us reach more countries and more languages. We are pleased to already have the support of the United Kingdom and Brazil, as well as GIZ, the German Bilateral Development Corporation, and the European Freight and Logistics Leaders Forum. With the help of these partners in the first edition next year, we aim to cover 36 countries and 65% of freight transport activity using 9 languages. Expect the first results in the late summer 2026 and every year after that. The annual survey results should inform debate and reflection on progress towards sustainable logistics and contribute to the tracking of To close, in all of your discussions on sustainable transport over the next decade, we ask you to reflect on the specificities of freight and passenger transport— different customers, different technologies, different infrastructure and vehicles, but sometimes shared infrastructure and shared vehicles. Through understanding these differences and synergies, we will be able to develop and implement better policies and practice to accelerate the shift

Thank you, Mr. Major, and to the Kuna Foundation for these excellent initiatives that will focus on logistics and building that capacity and collecting the data that are needed to help make informed decisions around supply chains so that the sustainability of our freight movement will be a big part of the decade. This concludes a very impressive showcase of the— just some of the voluntary commitments that have been put forward to accelerate action during the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. I thank all of our speakers and their organizations for taking that step beyond the implementation plan and setting the stage for a very active decade ahead and for driving that level of change that will result in a successful UN Decade and transform sustainable transport into a reality in all parts of the world. So thank you very much. We will now shift to our next session. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we are now moving to the final segment of our event, the stakeholder roundtable focusing on collaboration for sustainable transport. This short roundtable conversation will be followed by the open debate and interventions from the floor, and we look forward to welcoming those interventions. We are delighted to have 3 distinguished speakers here representing different stakeholder groups and modes of transport. I would like to first give the floor to Mbis Barayam Akgil, the President of the World Bicycle Industry Association. And the question I would like to pose, Mr. Akgil, is what in your mind is needed to concretely deliver the action that is aligned with the implementation plan for the UN Decade from the perspective of the bicycle industry? Over to you.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, on behalf of the World Bicycle Industry Association, I wish to thank you to United Nations and all partners to launch this related Global Decade of Sustainable Transport and for the opportunity to contribute to these important discussions. Let me begin by recalling a fundamental truth: bicycles and e-bikes are not marginal. They are one of the most cost-effective scalable and transformative tools, we have to deliver sustainable, resilient, and equitable transport systems. From our perspective, delivering concentrated action under implementation plan requires turning 5 pillar impacts, which is health, climate, equity, safety, and jobs with innovations provide a complete framework, and I will address what is needed through each of items. Health and well-being, which is one of the most important things, is countries must invest in safe cycling networks. Cycling has long health benefits. You know, cycling is one of the most effective, healthy transport ways. And second is climate and clean air. Cycling delivers fast, cost-effective emission reductions, which helps to sustainable transport with low carbon emissions. And this is one of the important things. And second thing is— third thing is implementation is required. Everyone benefits. This means affordable mobility programs, support for rural and low-income communities, and strong focus on youth and women. Just infrastructure is essential to cycling culture. Learn ride programs, school mobility campaigns, and public awareness efforts to make cycling normal and inclusive. And fourth is, to advance this pillar, countries must apply clear design standards for protected cycling infrastructures, adopt safe system approach, and make cycling safety indicators part of the national monitoring system. Protected network and safe speeds are non-negotiable if we want results. And 5th is jobs and innovation. Cycling generates millions of jobs across manufacturing, repair, logistics, sport, tourism, and digital mobility services. Delivering this pillar regards stable policies, framework investment programs, and allow the sectors, particularly SMEs, to scale. In summary, implementing the plan means funding safe network, employing the people, protecting vulnerable users, recognizing cycling climate value, and supporting the industries and drive sustainable innovation. And as the World Bicycle Industry Association, we stand ready to be at the table to these discussions as a constructive partner to the decade. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Akyıl. And I think that really does show us, at least from the perspective of the bicycle industry, the impacts on health, Thank you. On equality, on using active mobility to provide new opportunities and access to jobs and other dimensions. I'll turn now to our second speaker, and we're moving from cycling to another mode of transport. Our second speaker is Mr. Haldane Dodd, the Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group. Mr. Dodd, what in your mind can your organization and aviation at large do concretely during the decade to help deliver on sustainable transport? Over to you.

Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Excellencies, delegates, and colleagues, and thank you very much for inviting us to speak. It's a great honor. So the Air Transport Action Group represents the full spectrum of the civil aviation industry, and having been involved in the mobility space in the UN for a while, I'm always impressed that our sector can come together and recognize the importance of all modes of transport, from walking and cycling to flying as well. This UN Decade of Sustainable Transport represents a historic opportunity for the global air transport sector and global transport sector as a whole, not only to accelerate climate action, but to reaffirm the essential role that mobility plays in sustainable development globally, connecting countries, cultures, and businesses. So aviation is a catalyst for economic and social progress, supporting 86.5 million jobs and contributing 3.9% of global GDP. Every year, air transport carries around a third of world trade by value and enables 58% of international tourism, directly supporting livelihoods in developing and emerging economies in particular. Whilst we often think of aviation first as the major global airline hubs, in many regions and remote areas, aviation is a lifeline for health, education, trade, and enabling essential services, especially for small island states, least developed countries, and landlocked developing countries as well. And as we heard from our colleague at the World Shipping Council, often the sustainable development of international transport is forgotten in a way, so it's worth remembering that aviation supports education mobility, enabling millions to study abroad and bring knowledge back home and share knowledge with each other around the world; emergency and humanitarian response; economic participation, particularly in developing and emerging economies where connectivity drives investment and opportunity, and of course meeting people for gatherings such as this, fundamental function of multilateral cooperation. Perhaps more important than anything in any of those areas is the ability to family and friends to remain connected in what we have now in a mobile, a modern global world. So aviation is fully aligned with the SDGs and the strategic framework for the UN Decade and Sustainable Development, of course, presented here today. Today, together with our partners, the Air Transport Action Group is releasing a publication that highlights how aviation contributes to sustainable development globally in the context of this Sustainable Decade. The publication features voices from across the industry, from airports, airlines, OEMs, manufacturers of aircraft and engines, sustainable fuel producers as well, and those who lay out their respective organizations' support for that Sustainable Development Decade and their vision for inclusive, resilient, accessible, and environmental air transport. And despite being called a hard-to-abate sector in the climate change space, aviation has one of the clearest global sectoral climate action plans centered on achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. A commitment adopted by governments through our UN specialized agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization. And ICAO plays a vital role to outline standards, global standards for our sector that enable us to operate. Reaching net zero will require rapid development of sustainable aviation fuel, next-generation aircraft technologies, including electric, hybrid electric, and hydrogen propulsion, Clean energy ecosystem, and industry partners through airports, airlines, manufacturers, and air navigation service providers must continue to innovate together. We are releasing a new publication next year looking at how we get to net zero in 2050, and the key message from that publication is going to be that we have a 5-year window to set the right policy frameworks needed to get to net zero in 2050. And of course, This Sustainable Transport Decade sets an important impulse to foster that collaboration as well. So, in conclusion, we stand ready to be a partner to the UN, especially through ICAO, and to all member states during this decade. Our goal is a global aviation system that supports sustainable development while delivering on its net-zero commitment, ensuring that connectivity in 2035 and beyond is more sustainable, more inclusive, and more resilient than today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dodd, and very much with the Air Transport Action Group recognizing the important role that air transport plays, in particular for, as you mentioned, the Small Island Developing States, landlocked developing countries, in accessing opportunities and facilitating the type of sustainable development that is envisioned by the 2030 Agenda. Our 3rd speaker is Ms. Raquel Barrios, the Executive Director of YORS, which is Youth for Road Safety. Very much happy to have the youth perspective here, as has been highlighted by several of the other speakers. Ms. Barrios, you have already had experience from implementing the ongoing UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. How, in your mind, can we add value to road safety action with the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport? Over to you.

Thank you, Astra. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, and fellow advocates, I truly received this moment in awe. I think as a transport sector, we have made a significant achievement beyond the transport sector to— with recognizing the importance of creating a UN Decade for Sustainable Transport to continue enabling the Sustainable Development Agenda. I wanted to start by thanking all the people and the leaders who are— who have advocated over the years for this moment to happen. From the perspective of Youth4Road Safety, or yours, there are 3 important and crucial things that this decade needs to encompass. First is inclusion. Second one is collaboration, and third one is accountability. I think a lot of the commitments that were already presented are pretty much in line with that, so that was music to my ears. When it comes to inclusion, I think we must ensure that our communities, especially those who are disproportionately affected by unsafe roads, are not just seen as beneficiaries. But as meaningful part of the design and the implementation of projects and concrete actions that will affect their transportation options, patterns, and behaviors. Transport solutions will only be effective if they foster ownership, they strengthen social cohesion, and reflect local needs and realities. The second point about collaboration It is important to recognize that transport is multidimensional, touching technology, environment, economy, and society all at once. Because of this complexity, there is no single sector that can achieve progress in isolation. Collaboration across industries, governments, and communities will ensure that diverse expertise is harnessed. In terms of youth involvement, engaging multiple generations brings fresh innovation while honoring accumulated wisdom. Only through inclusive partnerships among all stakeholders can transport goals be truly realized. And finally, in terms of accountability, we must establish monitoring systems that enable civil society, including youth, to hold stakeholders accountable. Governments, institutions, and even private sector cannot claim progress if we don't have mechanism to follow through on their promises. So, this is pretty much related to Slocum's commitment about monitoring and establishing permanent mechanisms to follow through the decade. Yours, or role in this decade, is pretty much clear. We're ready as a youth community to continue mobilizing funding, to continue building capacities, ensuring that road safety remains a foundational pillar of sustainable transport to the new decade. We will continue to create this capacity to design and implement projects that highlight the multiple co-benefits of road safety in achieving the objectives of the Decade of Sustainable Transport. transport. As a community-focused organization, we will bring the social dimension to support the effectiveness of transport investment. We are your gateway to support public acceptance and compliance. To achieve this, yours is strengthening and expanding the Global Youth Coalition for Sustainable Mobility, the only global youth-led platform that bridges the decade's implementation plan with youth-led global, regional, and local actions championing transport as a means of sustainability. I would like to finish saying that if we want sustainable transport to deliver truly, we must put safety and communities at the heart of the decade, as there is no sustainability without safety and equity. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Ms. Barrios, and really, you know, a strong link between the Road Safety Decade that you've been working with and supporting and the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. I'm looking forward now, we will move to the open debate of the launch. I want to first just give our speakers 2 sentences to highlight what your primary hope is for the achievements of the UN Decade. Mr. Akoli, we'll start with you.

Thank you very much. Bicycle is very important transport transport way, because we met transport with bicycle when we are 4 years, 5 years old. We start to go somewhere, from somewhere to somewhere with bicycle when we are kids. So we are using road. So we are road— we are meeting road very early, our customers. So cycling is very important. I say whenever I meet government people, I say, okay, road is important, cycling road is important, but we need to engage ministers of education also about this, to not make only cycling roads, roads on the brain to respect cycling. Because if people respect cycles, then if they learn cycling, they will learn for safety and sustainable transport to respect each other. Lots of people are dying on the transport. This is one of the important things which is all ministries involved. So I think any kind of support for cycling should start not only for bicycle roads, also to teach people to respect cyclists. So that's the— if I want to comment with some small words, that's my comment.

Thank you, Mr. Akkoli. Mr. Dodd, your main hope for the decade?

Yeah, listen, I think when we look at the challenge that lies ahead of us in terms of decarbonizing the entire economy, let alone an industry like aviation. One of the things that we would like to see over the next 10 years is the understanding from all parts of the world that there are some real opportunities that come with that decarbonization story as well, and even though a lot of the technological work that we need to do can happen within the industry, actually the energy transition is a really important part of that process. And there are opportunities in countries all across the world. We heard from the minister from Chile about the potential for hydrogen out of Chile, but every country in the world has a potential for being a producer of sustainable aviation fuels. And so work with us, work with ICAO to make sure you understand the opportunities that exist in your own country, wherever that might be.

Thank you so much, Mr. Dodd. Ms. Barrios. Your last word on the hopes for the decade.

Thank you. So listening to fellow panelists now and before remind me that whether it's bicycles or aviation or trade, transport systems must be designed to move people and goods efficiently while safeguarding lives and protecting our planet at every single step. So as a diverse community with our own agendas, I truly hope that this new decade helps us unite and champion together to safeguard an integrated vision that is advocating for transport systems that put human multidisciplinary needs at the center of investment decisions.

Thank you, Ms. Barrios, and thank you to all of our panelists for flagging some of the initiatives and spaces for transformation during the decade. I'm now— it's my honor to open the floor for open debate. We have quite a bit of interest, member states inscribed in the list to speak. We will also include different stakeholders representing the transport modes and sectors in the open debate. I would please request keeping remarks to 3 minutes so that we can accommodate all of the interest in the room and all of the speakers. I'm delighted to start the open debate by inviting our distinguished delegate from Turkmenistan to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport. You have the floor.

Thank you, Astra. Thank you, Excellencies. on the Decade for Sustainable Transport. So this resolution will be adopted by the General Assembly on December 15th, so we will definitely distribute the text, and there are 3 really important elements there. One, I want to share, there is a coordination mechanism required, United Nations Transport Mechanism, where all the UN entities, international organizations will be sitting systematically as UN Water, UN Energy, and communicating regularly during the decade. So this is a platform. This is the bridges that we are building between the international organizations, member states, NGOs, academia, so different entities within the decade. So we need the platform first. To have the room to negotiate, to have the room to deliver a statement, yeah? The second is an atlas of sustainable transportation. This is the visual tool. We have many visual tools already expressed and stressed by the speakers, distinguished speakers, but we need one data indicators and visual tool that will gather all the information and data available and show it really openly on the United Nations website. Road safety layer, decarbonization layer, infrastructure development layer, so youth engagement layer. So all the layers will be showed on that atlas. This is the idea incorporated in the draft resolution and adopted by the Second Committee. So this is the mandate that we have already from the General Assembly. So Turkmenistan and the group of friends on sustainable transport with you to implement this mandate. The last thing, we have a mechanism of the midterm review for the decade and the final review of the decade. It's 2030 and 2035. So please, all the colleagues present here, keep in mind that this is the milestones that we get to achieve. So the implementation plan is not so practical and concrete on the objectives, we need to achieve during the decade, but the implementation plan is something to review annually and during the 5-year period. So keep in mind that this is the element that I wanted to just share with you. So please allow me to also read the official statement from the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport. It's 18 countries represented in the group. So today marks a historic milestone, an official launch of the United Nations Decade Sustainable Transport, established by the General Assembly again and entrusted with a clear purpose: to accelerate collective action towards sustainable, inclusive, affordable, accessible, safe, energy-efficient, reliable, and resilient transport systems worldwide. So the Group of Friends warmly welcomes the adoption of the Second Committee Resolution I mentioned already and commends the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs especially Astra and Rina sitting here. I mean, the tremendous efforts these personalities contributed to achieve this decade. So the regional commissions and all UN system partners for their extensive consultations in preparing for the implementation plan. So we note with appreciation that the resolution acknowledges the important role of the partnerships such as Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport in supporting the decade's objectives. As we begin the 10-year journey, we are reminded that sustainable transport is not only about mobility. It is about development, equity, climate resilience, food, energy security, access to markets, regional connectivity, safety, social inclusion. So the increasing frequency of global shocks, from pandemics, we know already, to regional disruptions, has underscored the importance of diversified, efficient, and resilient transport networks and supply chains. Transport underpins every Sustainable Development Goal, as mentioned already by speakers. It links communities, drives economic opportunities, supports digital transformation, and enables countries to respond to crises and recover from them. The Group of Friends reaffirms its commitment to the following: support international cooperation and knowledge sharing across all modes of transport. Encourage integration of sustainable transport into national and regional transport agendas. Promote innovation, digitalization, emerging technologies that enhance safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Strengthen the voice and needs of developing countries. This is important. Developing countries, including LDCs, LLDCs at the centre of the implementation of the decade, facilitating dialogue among Member States, UN entities, financial institutions, private sector, and other stakeholders to advance concrete solutions. We further underline the importance of resilient, well-connected, and sustainable transport corridors as essential enablers to stable trade flows and global supply chains, particularly in times of crisis. Enhancing multimodal transport, digital connectivity, and climate-resilient infrastructure will be crucial in the years ahead. We also welcome the convening of the Midterm Review in 2030 and the 3rd United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference at the same year, which will serve as an important momentum to assess progress and adjust course as necessary. The Group of Friends stands ready to work closely with DESA, and other partners to ensure coordinated, inclusive, and action-oriented implementation throughout the decade. Let today's launch serve as a commitment to move from vision to results, delivering transport systems that are safer, greener, more resilient, and accessible for all. Thank you.

Thank you very much. to the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan and the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport for driving forward the progress toward the UN Decade. I would now like to invite His Excellency Mr. Kairat Umarov, the Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Moderator, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Dear delegates, Kazakhstan warmly welcomes the official launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. We commend DESA for their leadership in preparing the implementation plan presented today. As the world's largest landlocked developing country, Kazakhstan has long viewed transport connectivity not only as an economic factor, but as a vital lifeline. We are fully committed to the objectives of this decade and strongly support the General Assembly's vision to strengthen the links between all modes of transport to achieve the SDGs. For us, sustainable transport means efficient, resilient, and green transit corridors that bridge East and West. It is essential for reducing trade costs and ensuring equitable access to global markets. To support the UN Decade's goals of efficiency and sustainability, Kazakhstan is taking concrete actions on the ground. We have significantly expanded our railway network, including the double-tracking of the section that was a critical bottleneck. We addressed this constraint this year to dramatically increase throughput capacity. We are also rolling out unified digital platforms such as the FAST Customs System and Smart Cargo initiatives. These tools leverage automation to reduce customs clearance times from days to minutes, minimizing delays and lowering the carbon footprint of logistics operations. In partnership with our neighbors Azerbaijan and Georgia, we are modernizing our Caspian Sea ports ports at Aktau and Kouryk to serve as green hubs for sustainable transshipment. Dear colleagues, Kazakhstan is building a transport network that is not only efficient but responsible, by integrating green technology and rigorous safety standards to protect our environment and save lives. We are overhauling urban transit in major cities like Almaty and Astana, by expanding light rail networks and transitioning bus fleets to compressed natural gas and electric power. We are also implementing a zero-tolerance approach to road casualties. By deploying smart traffic systems and AI-driven monitoring, we are enforcing safer driver behaviour and reducing fatalities. We are auditing and retrofitting our highway network to meet international safety ratings, ensuring that physical infrastructure protects vulnerable road users. We are also committed to transforming our geography from a constraint into a competitive advantage, repositioning Kazakhstan as a key land-linked transit hub in Eurasia. Central to this vision is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. This route has emerged as a vital, resilient artery for China-to-Europe trade, offering a reliable alternative that significantly reduces transit times. Over the past 5 years alone, cargo volumes along this corridor have increased sixfold. We are now on track to boost the corridor's capacity to 10 million tonnes annually by 2027. The Middle Corridor is a prime example of how regional cooperation allow to solve global supply chains. However, its full potential relies on continued multi-stakeholder partnerships, and we invite Member States, international financial institutions, and the private sector to collaborate with us in further developing this corridor by aligning our national initiatives with the Global Gateway and the UN Implementation Plan. We can ensure that Eurasian transport remains efficient, green, and inclusive. Ladies and gentlemen, the ambitious goals of this decade cannot be achieved in isolation. We value the insights shared by the previous panelists, highlighting the need for strong multi-stakeholder partnerships. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with all of you, with all partners, to ensure this decade delivers tangible results. Thank you. results. We look forward to continuing these technical discussions at the Kickstarting Country-Level Action workshop this afternoon. I thank you.

Thank you to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I would now like to invite the distinguished delegate of the United Kingdom to take the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The UK welcomes the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, and we are committed to supporting its implementation. I want to thank today's panelists for their valuable remarks and also to recognize the efforts of the Group of Friends to get us to this point. Today's launch is timely as we seek to accelerate the SDGs and climate action, and with UN meetings on the New Urban Agenda, global road safety, and reviews of energy and infrastructure goals at HLPF next year. While progress has been made, challenges remain. 1 billion people still live more than 2 kilometers from a road which functions in all seasons, and we know road access is directly linked to poverty and economic growth. Transport is the second largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions, and transport infrastructure often lacks resilience to severe weather. A 10% drop in transport costs in Africa could increase trade by 25%, and safer roads could save 1.2 million deaths a year, 90% of these in low- and middle-income countries. These challenges are shared by all countries, including the UK. So we are committed to taking action at home and partnering internationally to address them. A few weeks ago at the G20, our Prime Minister announced new UK partnerships on rail transport with South Africa, Vietnam, and Türkiye. We are chairing the Zero Emissions Vehicles Transition Council, spearheading the COP26 Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans, co-convening the Road Transport Breakthrough with India and expanding the UK emissions trading scheme to the maritime sector as part of our maritime decarbonization strategy. We are also working with Germany, Canada, and the Shell Foundation on a transport research and innovation platform called RIDE. We will also soon launch a new UK road safety strategy. The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport will be vital to strengthening our partnerships, to help learn from international and local innovations, and harness science, technology, innovation, data, and research. We must ensure road, rail, and shipping systems are maximized, both for inclusive growth and to tackle the climate and nature crisis. We look forward to working with you all to achieve this. I thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of the United Kingdom. I would now invite the distinguished delegate of Ethiopia to take the floor.

Thank you, Madam Moderator, for giving me the floor. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I also wish to thank DESA for organizing this Thank you very much, Mr. President, for this launch. Sustainable transport is a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and a catalyst for progress in its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Transport systems are one of the most important factors in how we fight poverty, ensure healthy societies, advance clean and affordable energy, build sustainable cities, industries, and create decent jobs. In short, when transport works for everyone, development works for everyone too. Ethiopia is implementing bold and ambitious policy goals that promote investments and private sector-led growth, including in the renewable energy sector. Transport is a key catalyst for our broader sustainable development and economic growth, as we continue to take bold and pioneering measures with a new paradigm shift. In 2024, Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban import of gasoline and diesel vehicles, aiming for 500,000 electric vehicles in service by 2030. With more than 95% of its electricity being generated from renewable sources, our EV transition is largely powered by green energy. Ethiopia's new e-mobility strategy provides a bold roadmap to accelerate cleaner, inclusive transport and local industry growth. In addition to its economic viability, Ethiopia's leadership in promoting cleaner air, greener jobs, and bankable opportunities in the transport sector across the value chain. Despite challenges in EV charging networks, adequate local assembly infrastructure, and affordability, Sustainable mobility for all Ethiopians is a high priority for the government of Ethiopia. Ethiopia also faces structural challenges as the most populous landlocked country in the world with more than 130 million people in efficiently accessing regional and international markets. Realizing the full potential of sustainable transport will require significant and sustainable investment in infrastructure and regional connectivity, and improve logistics and economic integration. More investment and cooperation is critical to address key infrastructure gaps, boost trade, jobs, and resilience with a regional network of roads, ports, railways, highways, and pipelines. In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm the need for developing transport systems that leave no one behind, connect communities, transform economies, and protect our planet as the new UN Decade of Sustainable Transport begins. I thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of Ethiopia. I would now invite the distinguished delegate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, transport is the lifeline of our economies and the backbone of resilient societies. Yet we must face a stark reality. The transport sector accounts for almost a quarter of global CO2 emissions, 70% of which come from land-based transport. And while global demand for transport continues to grow, climate change is already placing enormous pressure on our infrastructure systems. This is why it is essential that we adhere to our international commitments and remain on course toward a zero-emission transport system by 2050. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, our priorities include zero-emission heavy-duty transport, active mobility, and zero-emission construction logistics. Excellencies, the global transition has faced 3 hurdles: investment, infrastructure, and market uptake. These challenges are real, but they cannot become excuses. Predictability for markets and clear enabling conditions can only be achieved through international cooperation. The Inland Transport Committee plays a vital role as a global forum for inland transport. Through its legislative frameworks, standards, and policy instruments, the ITC helps build transport systems that are safe, resilient, and sustainable. For example, the Netherlands is leading the task force on standardizing charging protocols, giving businesses the clarity they need and paving the way for a global zero-emission truck market. On monitoring and data, The International Transport Infrastructure Observatory is a vital tool where climate and infrastructure data are brought together, enabling financial institutions to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure. These actions form a part of the comprehensive climate strategy adopted in Geneva in 2024. But our focus cannot be on CO2 reductions alone. Sustainability and economic development must not be viewed as competing agendas. We need a new vision of transport, one that improves accessibility, health, inclusion, environmental quality, and long-term prosperity. This means investing in active mobility, setting standards for used vehicles and fuels, deploying smart charging systems that turn vehicles into power plants on wheels, promoting circular approaches in mobility, and designing cities where people can meet their daily needs without depending on more transport. The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport marks an important milestone by integrating all these dimensions into one global agenda. It reminds us that transformative change is necessary across economic, social, and environmental environmental fronts. Let's seize this momentum, shift gears, and accelerate towards a truly sustainable future. I thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I would now like to invite the distinguished delegate of Austria to take the floor.

Thank you, Madam Moderator. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, it's a privilege to join you today at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Sustainable transport is essential for development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. It's not only an important factor for economic progress and infrastructure, it also connects people to jobs, education, healthcare, energy, food supply, and to each other. It contributes to more inclusive societies by connecting remote areas and by providing accessible and safe transport for all. The transport sector also plays a crucial role for climate action. For many countries, especially those in vulnerable situations, sustainable transport can be a lifeline. Transport connectivity and affordable, resilient transport systems are crucial. Austria, as a landlocked country, understands the critical importance of reliable efficient and sustainable transit links. We have designed our transport policy on the basis of clear principles that apply at all stages of development. First, decarbonization of transport is important. Clean, low-emission transport systems are essential for achieving development and climate goals. Second, prioritizing public transport and freight rail is central, especially where scale and geography allow. Investments in rail-based logistics and public transport— transit, sorry— offer sustainable and long-term benefits for all. And third, electrification of individual transport is a key strategy to reduce emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. We also have made the experience that peer learning can avoid costly development patterns, and Austria stands ready to contribute to regional and global efforts to build resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart connectivity. Excellencies, the launch of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport is a landmark opportunity to accelerate global progress towards climate neutrality, resilient mobility systems, and healthier, more inclusive societies. And I would like to share with you 2 initiatives that Austria is advancing in support of this decade. Firstly, together with, with other member states and organizations, we initiated an international walking initiative. The idea is to shine a global spotlight on walking as a mode of transport. To promote walking and inspire a healthier society, we launched this initiative for a walking day on 27th of April. All member states are welcome to join this initiative. And secondly, we also present a concrete national commitment under our zero emission mobility program eMove Austria. By 2030, we aim to ensure that 95% of the population has access to a fast charging station within 10 kilometers. This supports a rapid and socially fair transition to clean mobility and supports our national goal of climate neutrality by 2040. To conclude, Austria stands ready to collaborate with all partners to make this decade a success, and I thank you. Thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of Austria. I would like to kindly request that interventions are kept to 2 minutes so that we can accommodate the full list of interventions. You can send your full statement to our office at dsdg@un.org with the subject Sustainable Transport, and we will make sure to recognize your statement. recognize this. I would now like to give the floor to the International Road Federation. Over to you.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, roads are the arteries of global mobility, connecting people, goods, and opportunities. How road systems are planned, built, and managed will determine whether the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport achieves its goals. This is why the International Road Federation, together with a number of strategic partners commit to mobilize the global road ecosystem to translate the Decade's vision into actions for inclusive, safe, green, and efficient roads for all. At the center of this commitment is the Roadmaps for Change series. These roadmaps will outline concrete implementation plans for, first, inclusive roads that improve safe rural access and rebalance urban space to prioritize active and collective mobility. Second, safe roads aligned with the targets of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety. Third, green roads that advance decarbonization and resilience with sustainable materials, full-life carbon management, and biodiversity-sensitive planning. And fourth, efficient and smart roads that maximize value, safety, and performance through digitalization, automation, and intelligent operations. To support uptake of these roadmaps, we will also deliver a capacity-building program for road and transport authorities to take ownership of their skills development strategies and instruments. The UN Decade presents a unique opportunity to rethink how roads can better serve people and the planet. We are committed to strengthen those on the front lines of change. Thank you.

Thank you to the International Road Federation. I now invite the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation.

Dear Madam President, we would like to shorten our statement as you called. We basically would like to start with the point that we very much welcome the efforts of our friends from Turkmenistan for their promotion of this topic and for their work in the Second Committee. We highly appreciate that. We also recognize the meaning and the significance of the transport agenda for the Agenda 2030. I would like to say a couple of words about our country. We consistently integrate sustainable development principles into our regulatory frameworks and key projects, and our national transport strategy is directly aligned with 2030 Agenda. And we basically aim at improving connectivity between urban and rural areas, enhancing road safety, and creating sustainable cities. We pay special attention to strengthening international connectivity and forming stable, resilient, regional and international transport corridors to develop shipments along shorter and more economically viable routes, such as International North-South Transport Corridor and Northern Sea Route. To this end, we're investing in the development and creation of modern transport infrastructure, introduction of digital technologies, and the optimization of logistics processes. The digital transformation is one of our key priorities. In Moscow and other cities, intelligent transport systems are highly automated vehicles being actively introduced. We're also implementing electrification policy, supporting domestic production in electric vehicles, and expanding network of charging infrastructure. Couple of words about Eurasian Economic Union. Regional integration with the Eurasian Economic Union contributes significantly to the overall sustainable transport agenda. Canada. The development of transport and logistics infrastructure is recognized as a crucial factor ensuring sustainable development of all EAAU member states. Our joint work focuses on digitalization as well, eliminating bottlenecks, implementing priority infrastructure projects, executing the comprehensive plan for the development of Eurasian transport corridors. I would like to emphasize in conclusion that we're open to sharing its experience and cooperate with countries and organizations, joining forces to implement projects that will make transport in the future more sustainable and accessible for all. And I thank you for your attention.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation. I now invite the distinguished delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco to take the floor.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's an honor to take part in this significant international event dedicated to launching the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. Allow me at the outset to convey, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco, our sincere appreciation for this timely initiative which seeks to mobilize the global community around our shared forward-looking vision of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient mobility. Under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has embarked on an ambitious transformation of its development model. This transformation places territorial cohesion, environmental sustainability, and public policy effectiveness at its core. Transport and mobility play a pivotal role and in this endeavor serving as a key driver of spatial equity, economic competitiveness, and enhancing the quality of life for our citizens. Ladies and gentlemen, Morocco has placed sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate action at the heart of its national priorities. This commitment is reflected in the adoption of the National Charter of Environment and Sustainable Development, the ratification of the Paris Agreement, and the ongoing development of renewed national strategy for sustainable development for Horizon 2035. At the governance level, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics is leading the development of national charter for sustainable and inclusive mobility for 2035. This charter aims to align national, regional, and local stakeholders around unified and citizen-centered vision that enhance road safety, reduce emissions, ensure equitable access to transport services, and strengthening policy coordination across all levels of government. The United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035 represents a decisive moment to accelerate the global transition toward integrated, safe, resilient, and low-carbon transport system. It provides an important platform to strengthen climate commitments, foster innovation, and promote greater convergence of national and international policies. Achieving these ambitions requires stronger international cooperation. The Royal Initiative offering the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean stands as a statement to this commitment. Ladies and gentlemen, Morocco's efforts across all modes of transport reflect a strong and unwavering determination to build a model of mobility that is sustainable, efficient, and resilient. The United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport offers a unique opportunity to reinforce these efforts and deepen international cooperation in pursuit of a more sustainable future for all. Kingdom of Morocco will continue to work toward renewed international cooperation and toward transport systems that serve people, the climate, and shared opportunity. Thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco. I would now invite the distinguished delegate of St. Kitts and Nevis to take the floor.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues. Saint Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Island Agenda, SISA 2040, represents our national effort to achieve the Paris Agreement and accelerate the attainment of the SDGs while advancing long-term sustainability resilience, and security initiatives. Today's launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport is viewed by my delegation as a cost-cutting accelerator, just as the global community must work to mitigate the risks associated with geo-economic rupture marked by industrial protectionism and weaponized trade. Economic volatility denies vulnerable small island developing states of critical financing, technology, and trade conduits necessary for sustainable development across the board. In this vein, we laud the leadership of the Association of Caribbean States, which is spearheading efforts to develop and modernize transportation infrastructure with focus on ports, ports, airports, maritime facilities to improve connectivity, logistics efficiency, and accessibility within the region. We also welcome the Caribbean Development Bank's initiative, which targets increasing administrative capacity, implementing cashless payment systems and user information portals, and enhancing accessibility for vulnerable populations and forms part of a comprehensive framework aimed at sustainable improving public road transportation. At the national level, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis intends to unveil its electric vehicles policy and action plan that aims to increase the quality of electric vehicles on the island to 2% of the total number of vehicles islandwide by 2030. To support this plan, the Energy Unit will promote the development and deployment of charging infrastructure at single-family home dwellings and bus terminals and advocate for the importation of EVs. Chair, St. Kitts and Nevis anticipates an ambitious implementation plan in line with Resolution 78/148. That recognizes the role of regional institutions and reflects the priorities of the Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS, including the Center for Excellence for SIDS. In conclusion, St. Kitts and Nevis further emphasizes the urgency of implementing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, which would make it easier to access vulnerability-aligned financing to holistic transport our society to a just future while simultaneously future-proofing our economy for the new industrial age. I thank you.

Thank you to the distinguished delegate of Saint Kitts and Nevis. I would now invite Metro Bilbao representative to take the floor.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, it's an honor to be here and speak on behalf of Metro Bilbao, a public transport transport operator, thanks to the support of our institutions, the Vizcaya Provincial Government, Basque Government, and the Local 2030 Coalition Secretariat based in Bilbao. After the celebration in Bilbao last week of an international conference on the contribution of the public transport sector to meet the SDGs, with the participation of more than 30 countries, conclusions are clear. First, public transport is not only about moving people from one side to another. It's about connecting communities, strengthening them, and attracting people to live and work in them. Second, we must continue improving accessibility so no one is left behind. Third, public transport companies are among the main employers in most cities, creating quality local jobs and generating positive impact locally. And finally, public transport from operators to authority, from industry to finance, contributes directly or indirectly to all the Sustainable Development Goals. Localizing the SDGs to sustainable transport means turning mobility into a true engine of social inclusion, gender equality, and equal opportunities, making the goals of the Agenda 2030 tangible in daily lives of people and community. Thank you very much for this decade.

Thank you, DESA, for your leadership and your vision. Thank you very much to Metro Bilbao. I would now like to invite the distinguished

delegate of Saudi Arabia to take the floor. Thank you, madam. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pleased to participate in today's launch of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport. 2026-2035 initiative that comes at a pivotal moment as the world seeks to advance sustainable development, strengthen resilience, and enhance global connectivity. Aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has adopted a comprehensive approach to transforming the transport and logistics sectors through its National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to position the Kingdom as a global logistic hub connecting 3 continents while developing integrated, smart, and efficient transport networks across the aviation, maritime, road, and rail sectors. The Kingdom is implementing initiatives to expand sustainable and low-carbon mobility, including the deployment of clean technologies, the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure, and the adoption of environmentally responsible practices in maritime and air transport. These efforts are consistent with the Kingdom's national climate commitments and its aspiration to enhance resilience and reduce emissions across the transport sector. Saudi Arabia also places strong emphasis on road safety, where significant significant progress has been achieved through improved road design, stricter safety standards, and data-driven traffic management systems, all contributing to safer mobility for communities across the country. Technology and innovation are central pillars of the Kingdom transport transformation. The integration of AI-powered systems Digital logistics platforms and smart mobility solutions is enhancing operational efficiency, improving passenger experience, and supporting the modernization of supply chains. The Kingdom recognizes the importance of international cooperation in advancing sustainable transport. It stands ready to work constructively with member states, the United Nations system, and all partners to exchange knowledge, promote innovation, and strengthen collective efforts toward more inclusive, efficient, and resilient

transport systems. Thank you very much. Thank you to the distinguished delegate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I note that we are running a little bit over time, so if anyone does need to leave, if the ministers need to leave, we very much thank them for joining. We will now move to the representative of the

World Wildlife Fund to take the floor. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, WWF welcomes the declaration of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026 to 2035. And the development of its implementation plan. As member states prepare for the rollout of the implementation plan, WWF urges that biodiversity and healthy ecosystems be fully embedded across all pillars of action. Sustainable transport is certainly about low-carbon mobility and resilience, but it is also about ensuring that infrastructure systems do not undermine the natural capital and upon which societies and economies depend. WWF highlights 3 priorities. First, make ecosystem-sensitive planning and design a core requirement for all transport corridors. This includes early spatial screening to avoid critical habitats, minimizing fragmentation and land use conversion, and incorporating robust mitigation and restoration measures where impacts are unavoidable. Second, integrate biodiversity safeguards and measurable indicators into both national transport strategies and the Decades monitoring framework. These should align with the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Third, use the Decades platform for voluntary sustainable transport action commitments to accelerate nature-positive solutions, including ecological corridors, wildlife-safe infrastructure, nature-based resilience measures, and planning approaches that reconcile mobility with ecosystem integrity. WWF and its partners are committed to supporting this process through a 6-year global initiative on greening transportation infrastructure development. Our partners include the Global Environment Facility, the Asian Development Bank, and the UN Environment Programme. WWF stands ready to work with member states, UN agencies, financial institutions, and stakeholders to ensure development of transport systems that are efficient, equitable, climate-aligned, and truly

nature-positive. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you to the World Wildlife Fund. I would now invite the distinguished delegate

of Azerbaijan to take the floor. Madam Chair, Excellencies, we welcome the launch of the implementation plan for the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport and appreciate the clear vision presented through the 6 priority areas which provide a timely and practical framework for advancing climate-resilient innovative, sound transport system as an integral driver of sustainable development. For Azerbaijan, sustainable transport is both a policy priority and a key development path under the socioeconomic development strategy. Positioned at the crossroads of north-south and east-west trade routes, Azerbaijan has invested heavily in modern multimodal transport networks that shorten transit times and lower costs, including the Trans-Caspian International Transit corridor known as the Middle Corridor, serving as a key bridge between Asia and Europe. Chair, connectivity is a strategic priority for all landlocked countries, as also emphasized in the Avaza Programme of Action. In this context, the Transport Route for International Peace and Prosperity, TRIP, will ensure unimpeded access between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan region, further enhancing the efficiency of the Middle Corridor and strengthening regional ties. At the same time, we recognize that connectivity needs to extend into the digital domain beyond physical infrastructure. As also noted by His Excellency the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, together with the partners, we are advancing the ambitious Digital Silk Way project, a fiber optic cable system under the Caspian Sea that will connect Asia and Europe through a secure, high-capacity, and resilient digital network. Closely linked to the plans focused on people-centered urban mobility and livable cities. Azerbaijan is also preparing to host the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku next year in May, which will provide an important platform to advance sustainable urban planning, low-carbon mobility solutions, and resilient infrastructure. Over the past decade, we have made significant commitments to greening our transport systems, including the transformation of liberty territories through the establishment of designated green energy zones. These efforts are reinforced through the COP29 Action Agenda initiatives integrated into Azerbaijan's updated nationally determined— nationally determined contribution, which identifies the transport sector as a priority area for emissions mitigation. In closing, Madam Chair, Azerbaijan stands ready to contribute actively to the collective endeavors outlined in the implementation plan to ensure that transport serves not only as a driver of economic growth, but as a cornerstone of equitable, resilient, and sustainable

development for all. Thank you. Thank you to the distinguished delegate of Azerbaijan. We have 2 final speakers. I would now like to invite the International Center for

Transport to take the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. We're facing the end of a very active policymaking decade represented by 7 consecutive UNGA resolutions and 2 global conferences. Now we're entering the policy implementation decade, and from now on, a lot will depend on the availability of the implementation tools and the ability of sovereign states to use them. I'll focus on 2 briefly tools mentioned in the last resolution. OP6 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to conduct a study and consider, I quote, establishing coordination mechanism with a view to enhancing UN system-wide coherence and coordination in support of the DCA. Such a political instrument is much needed and in my view is long overdue. It should cover all modes of transport on all 5 continents and might be called UN Transport, similar to existing forums like UN Energy or UN Water or something else that's better. While the first tool is mostly political by nature, the second one is primarily digital. Paragraph 7 of the resolution recommends, I quote, to develop visual and data-driven tools to track and trace progress of the implementation of the Decade, showcasing global, regional, and national indicators, good practices, and voluntary commitments. This new digital tool will be further upgraded under the guidance of the UNDESA, making the best use of already existing IT solutions. And once completed, I quote, it will support transparency and evidence-based decision-making around the globe and hopefully soon become a real digital library of the transport industry for all interested

stakeholders. Thank you. Thank you to the International Centre for Transport. I would now

like to invite our final Thank you. It is an honor to be with you today. From Latin America, we present a regional commitment that reflects a shared vision across our nations. This effort is called Latin America Leadership for Safe and Sustainable Mobility Through Policy, Awareness, and Knowledge. Thank you. It represents a long-term collaboration where Aliatica Foundation works with governments and civil society in Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico to strengthen safe and sustainable mobility systems. Our experience shows that evidence and monitoring are essential to transform information into action for authorities, media, and public. For this reason, we encourage the Decent Implementation Plan to prioritize data-driven approaches for measurable progress. Sustainability mobility is about people. It requires behavior change, stronger enforcement, police and motorcycling training, safer school environments, and community-led interventions. Cultural change is not optional. It is essential to saving lives and reducing the human and economic cost of road crashes. Equity must also guide every step of the decade. In Latin America, traffic deaths affect vulnerable road users the most. Guaranteeing the right to safe mobility for all should be a fundamental principle of this global effort. regardless of where they live or how they move. The success of this decade depends on collaboration. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to contribute, share our experience, and help expand successful models across

the region. Thank you. Thank you so much to the Aletikia Foundation. Dear colleagues, Excellencies, this concludes the launch of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport and its Implementation Plan. I would like to especially thank the ministers, the distinguished ministers, for joining us and for their leadership in advancing sustainable transport, and thank all of the colleagues who have been instrumental to taking the Implementation Plan to the stage We look forward to working with all of you in the decade to come. Thank