UN DESA Chief outlines the road ahead in Beijing for upcoming Sustainable Transport Conference
12 October 2021
Beijing, 12 October 2021 — Journalists convened at the UN Compound in Beijing were provided with an opportunity to learn about the significance of the upcoming UN Sustainable Transport Conference and the desired outcomes for the event at a curtain raiser press conference led by the UN Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and Conference Secretary-General, Liu Zhenmin, joined by Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Alexander Trepelkov and moderated by the UN Resident Coordinator in China, Siddharth Chatterjee.
With the transport sector contributing approximately 25% of all direct greenhouse gas emissions, there is a renewed sense of urgency for achieving sustainable transport globally– transport that is safe, green, efficient, and accessible. As we head towards COP26 in November, the UN Sustainable Transport Conference, hosted by the People’s Republic of China from 14 to 16 October, is an opportunity to highlight concrete solutions for developing transport systems that will effectively respond to the climate crisis.
“The clock is ticking on our 2030 timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and for meeting the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” Mr. Liu said. “The forthcoming second Global Sustainable Transport Conference will be a landmark moment for stakeholders from across the world to discuss challenges and opportunities, good practices and solutions.”
The UN Sustainable Transport Conference will provide a roadmap for achieving transport systems that are designed to help protect the environment, while opening economic opportunities and improving health and well-being. The Conference will focus on the opportunities and challenges for all modes of transport – road, rail, aviation and waterborne – and provide concrete solutions for achieving sustainable transport worldwide.
The 3-day Conference will be hybrid and will consist of plenary sessions, a Ministers’ Forum, a Business Forum and a Science, Engineering and Technology Forum. At the heart of discussions will be the links between achieving sustainable transport and economic recovery, climate mitigation and other issues.
“I wish to commend the diligent preparations made by UN DESA, led by Mr. Liu Zhenmin, working closely with the Government of China to ensure the upcoming conference’s success,” Mr. Chatterjee said. “We continue to rely on DESA to uphold the development pillar of the UN, and help countries translate their global commitments into national action in the economic, social, and environmental spheres.”
Discussed at the curtain raiser press conference was the release of a new United Nations multi-agency report launched today that provides a guide to achieving sustainable transport.
According to the new report, there is urgent need for transformative action that will accelerate the transition to sustainable transport globally. Transport solutions exist that can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, although the report cautions that without the right policies and investments, they will not bring change to where it is needed most, particularly to people in developing countries.
The report, launched just before the second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference begins in Beijing, China, on 14 October 2021, was prepared by the UN DESA in close collaboration with 14 other UN agencies.
Website: bit.ly/transportreportUN
Hashtag: #SustainableTransport
For further information about the Curtain Raiser Press Conference, please contact:
Ms. Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China
Tel: +8610-85320725, Email: xi.li@un.org
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