The transport sector in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia plays a pivotal role in economic development, yet it also contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement provide a framework for countries to outline their climate actions, yet many LMICs in Asia face substantial challenges in achieving their transportation sector targets. A recent regional assessment from Asian Transport Outlook highlights that NDC’s document only 10% of transport mitigation and adaptation measures as documented in the transport policy documents. A need to gain a good understanding this gap will enable LMICs in Asia will have better vantage points to develop targeted policies and strategies to decarbonize their transport sector while pursuing growth and development. Such an analysis is being conducted by the Asian Transport Outlook (ATO), and a webinar aimed at sharing the initial insights from the research work was organized.
The webinar, entitled "Bridging the Gap: Deep Dive into NDCs and Transport Policy Landscapes in Low- and Middle-Income Asian Economies," was held on the 23rd of September 2024, with participation from experts in transport policy, climate change, and sustainable development. Over 75 participants joined the event. Speakers from the ATO, Asian Development Bank (ADB), the High Volume Transport (HVT) program, and the SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport were featured. The discussion centered around aligning NDCs with transport policies to achieve decarbonization and sustainable development goals in Asia.
The research - and the webinar is being supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the HVT Program (under project no. HVT057 being carried out by SLOCAT) being administered by DT-Global.
A recording of the video is now uploaded through ATO’s YouTube channel. Check out the final report, as well as the country profiles (for 24 LMICs) in the ATO website.
The Asian transport sector is facing significant challenges in aligning its growth with climate goals. Alvin Mejia of the ATO introduced the webinar to discuss the current state of transport-related emissions, the role of transport in greenhouse gas emissions, and the importance of integrating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with transport policy landscapes. This webinar explored the gap between these policies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, highlighting the urgency for coherent and effective strategies to mitigate climate change.
Bertrand Goalou of the Asian Development Bank emphasized the crucial role of the transport sector in LMICs for economic and social development, noting its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. He stressed the need for coherent climate action and ADB's commitment to supporting research that bridges knowledge gaps.
Holger Dalkmann, who is a senior adviser to the HVT program, highlighted the importance of collaboration and data-driven approaches to enhance climate action in the transport sector, focusing on Africa and Asia. He emphasized leveraging the NDCs to guide decarbonization efforts. Holger also promoted a couple of important upcoming events: UNESCAP Regional Commission Meeting (early November 2024) wherein an NDC policy brief being developed by HVT, UNESCAP, ADB, SLOCAT, and ATO will be presented; Half-Day Transport Event at COP29 in Baku (November 18th): Hosted by the Climate Compatible Growth Program in partnership with HVT, ADB, and others, this event will showcase transport decarbonization projects and outputs.
The transport sector in Asia, particularly in LMICs, plays a crucial role in enabling economic and social development. However, it also significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Alvin Mejia emphasized that transport-related emissions reached 2.8 gigatons of CO2 in 2023, with a 6.6% increase compared to previous years, primarily driven by Asia. The sector's emissions in Asia now match those of Europe and North America combined, underlining the urgency for action.
Sudhir Gota, the Co-Team Lead of the Asian Transport Outlook (ATO), presented insights into the existing gap between NDCs and transport policies:
Several opportunities were identified to bridge the gap between NDCs and transport policy landscapes such as in the following intervention areas:
Adaptation and resilience in the transport sector were identified as overlooked areas, with only 3% of measures in transport policy documents addressing adaptation. Considering that Asia faces 40-60% of the world's climate-related transport infrastructure damage, integrating adaptation measures into policies is crucial for long-term sustainability.
The webinar concluded with recommendations for improving the alignment between NDCs and transport policies:
The following depict the main insights during question-and-answer portion of the webinar:
Impact on GDP and Decarbonization: A question about the economic impact of shifting from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles to electric vehicles was raised. It was noted that decarbonization will vary by country, with larger manufacturers needing a quicker transition.
Policy Assessment Consistency: When asked about using AI for policy analysis, the team emphasized their manual, thorough process with a 265-measure template, although they acknowledged AI’s potential in this work.
Transport Policy vs. NDC Alignment: Another question asked whether transport policies should drive NDCs or vice versa. The consensus was that both need to be aligned and mutually reinforcing for effective action.
Adaptation and Resilience: Concerns about adaptation measures led to a discussion on the lack of resilience strategies in policy documents, emphasizing the need for more attention to climate adaptation.
Monitoring Progress: On monitoring observatories, it was stated that ATO is tracking performance and data sources to support countries in monitoring transport and climate actions.
The need for coherent, ambitious, and integrated transport and climate policies is clear. The findings presented in the webinar underscore that LMICs in Asia must play a pivotal role in global decarbonization efforts, given their growing transport demand and emissions. By aligning NDCs with transport policies, countries can bridge existing gaps, create effective strategies for emission reductions, and move toward sustainable, low-carbon transport systems.
Maruxa Cardama of SLOCAT, during the closing, emphasized the urgency of aligning transport policies with NDCs to address climate goals in Asia. She highlighted that the next months are critical for enhancing transport action, with countries expected to submit updated NDCs by February 2025. Maruxa underscored the high stakes, noting that achieving a net-zero scenario requires a 25% reduction in transport emissions by 2030.
23 September 2024
16:00 - 17:00 pm (GMT+8) - Philippines Standard TimeOnline (Google Meet)
1. | Opening | 10 min |
Asian Transport Outlook - Alvin Mejia | ||
2. | Welcome Remarks | |
Asian Development Bank - Bertrand Goalou | 5 min | |
HVT - Holger Dalkmann | 5 min | |
3. | NDC Gap Analysis : Draft Results | 20 min |
Asian Transport Outlook - Sudhir Gota | ||
4. | Question and Answers | 15min |
Facilitated by ATO | ||
5. | Closing | 5 min |
SLOCAT - Maruxa Cardama |
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