High Volume Transport

Vital transport research to ensure accessible, affordable and climate friendly transport for all.

Spotlight on: Climate change

As we near the end of the HVT programme, we’ve been reflecting on the key themes of our work with stakeholders in the programme.

Here, HVT’s Holger Dalkmann shares how the programme’s work has significantly strengthened the knowledge base and created new tools to decarbonise the transport sector.

Since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, some progress has been made in global climate action, including increased commitments from countries to reduce GHG emissions and the integration of climate adaptation into national policies. However, challenges persist, and the world is not on track to meet the 1.5°C target, with global temperatures already exceeding this threshold in 2024.

Transport plays a crucial role in achieving the Paris Agreement targets, as it accounts for approximately 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. But introducing decarbonising transport approaches is complex – especially for LMICs who face limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and the need for technology transfer. To make transport infrastructure resilient, it is essential to integrate climate considerations into planning, strengthen vulnerable infrastructure, and promote policies that discourage development in high-risk areas.

As we move towards COP30 in Brazil, we reach a pivotal moment for assessing global progress and enhancing climate action as countries submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Despite efforts, there is a significant risk of falling short due to insufficient emission reductions, and as a sector we must find all means possible to push for the updated NDCs to make transport accountable and reduce emissions.

Data, political commitment, finance, and capacity building are crucial pillars for enhancing the transport sector within NDCs in the coming years. Accurate data is essential for tracking emissions, setting realistic targets, and measuring progress. Political commitment ensures that ambitious targets are set and policies are implemented and sustained over time. Building on the outcome of COP29 in Baku, adequate climate finance is necessary to support the transition to sustainable transport modes and infrastructure. Capacity building empowers stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement, and maintain effective transport solutions. Together, these elements create a robust framework for achieving the decarbonisation goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

HVT’s work has significantly strengthened the knowledge base and created new tools to decarbonise the transport sector in LMICs in the ways outlined above. This includes the development of the Transport Data Commons Initiative and collaboration with UNESCAP, SLOCAT, ATO, and ADB on a common policy paper on Transport NDCs in the Asia region.

Additionally, HVT has supported the creation of tools such as the Transport Decarbonisation Index and climate finance tracking, which are powerful resources for countries to enhance their decarbonisation efforts. HVT has provided data, tools, adaptation and mitigation solutions, and capacity building at a critical moment in the climate crisis. Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, and faced with failures to meet targets, it is the hope that evidence and tools from programmes like HVT provide the building blocks to turn things around as we enter the next decade.