The Asia-Pacific region is urbanizing rapidly. According to estimates by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, by the year 2050, 68 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas from the current 55 per cent and much of that growth will take place in Asia.

The pattern of urbanization occurring throughout Asia presents great challenges but also unique opportunities to address environmental degradation, social equity, and economic prosperity. National and local  policy makers are concerned about finding solutions to address multiple urban transport challenges that positively enhance social and economic development. Addressing multiple, cross-cutting critical factors such as integrated planning, climate change, air quality and road safety need not just national but regional approaches.

In this regard, ESCAP has the mandate to address issues of sustainable urban transport, as outlined in the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Connectivity in Asia and the Pacific, phase I (2017-2021).  The Transport Division of ESCAP has recently conducted a study with the objective of equiping ESCAP member States with a set of sustainable urban transport recommendations to facilitate the implementation of sustainable transport policies and programmes and strengthen regional cooperation in this region. To do so, the study focused on: a) Green Transport, b) Smart Transport and c) Safe and Inclusive transport systems.

With the above backdrop, a regional meeting entitled “Asia-Pacific Sustainable Urban Transport Systems for the 2030 Agenda” will be organized on 9 and 10 June 2021 in a hybrid format. The high-level meeting will provide a platform for the exchange of regional and global best practices which address sustainable urban transport systems in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 11 and 13). ESCAP member States will be invited to the meeting and selected cities will also be invited to provide specific statements/presentations. Stakeholders including international organizations are expected to deliver statements/ presentations in related topics.

In the meeting, a draft Declaration will be tabled for consideration of the participants in the area of sustainable urban transport for the Asia-Pacific region.

The event related documents are/ will be available in due course of time in this website.