UN Sustainable Transport Conference set to begin in Beijing

The second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference is set to take place from Thursday to Saturday in Beijing, with key stakeholders from governments, the UN system, international organizations and the private sector to discuss sustainability in transportation, as well as its multiple roles in supporting global economic recovery, poverty-eradication and environmental protection.

Themed "sustainable transport, sustainable development", the three-day gathering underscores the importance of sustainable transport for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

In the upcoming three plenary sessions, four forums and six thematic sessions, vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, the elderly and those in many developing countries and small island states, will receive particular focus.

The recent scientific and technological advances in transport, green mobility, efficiency and safety are also expected to be addressed at the conference, Chatterjee said.

"For the global economic recovery, we should start with the global recovery of transport," said Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes international and domestic trade, Liu noted that transport plays a critical role in the post-pandemic era in helping integrate economies, enhancing rural-urban linkages and building resilience.

Statistics from an inter-agency report by the United Nations showed the transport sector was responsible for 24 percent of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. It also accounted for 57 percent of global oil demand and 28 percent of total energy consumption.

Therefore, one of the focuses of the conference will be how to address climate change in sustainable transport, which is well-recognized as being vital in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting ecosystems, said Alex Trepelkov, officer-in-charge of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Liu also highlighted China's remarkable progress in transport infrastructure construction, especially inter-provincial high-speed trains across the country, and roads access to nearly every village and county.

He expects this conference could offer a platform for the Chinese experience being introduced to other least developed countries, to facilitate local poverty eradication and economic development.

Till now, more than 150 countries have registered for the conference, Alex Trepelkov said.