Greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025, and can be nearly halved this decade, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to give the world a chance of limiting future heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. With the huge contribution made to GHGs by transport, HVT is working to support mitigation methods.

Our research provides a much needed evidence base for policy makers and planners considering transport development that must deliver transport to support growing economies and populations in ways that also reduce carbon emissions.

One issue in the evidence gap is a lack of big data. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have limited access to data about people’s movements and modes of transport because they lack adequate funding and capacity to obtain the data. Our AUMO project has been looking to promote inclusive, low-carbon mobility in African LIC cities, by piloting Big Data applications to generate data, benchmark performance, and draw policy insights.

Our research also explores modes of transport specific to many LMICs such as informal public transport and walking, and provides insight into the role and the development of these aspects of transport systems to support greener transport.