On 23 September world leaders met in New York at a UN Climate Summit. Among others action areas identified, there was also transport, which contributes about one quarter of energy-related global GHG emissions and about one fifth of energy use. Under a ‘Business as Usual’ scenario, energy use and GHG emissions are expected to rise by nearly 50 percent by 2030 and by more than 80 percent by 2050 (from 2009). Different global transport alliances advanced initiatives to sustain low carbon transport technologies.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that a shift to sustainable, low-carbon transport by the middle of the century could save governments, companies and individuals up to US$70 trillion. According to the agency, greater uptake of electric vehicles will form an important part of a low-carbon technology pathway for transport. The IEA suggests that technologies such as plug-in hybrid (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV) will have to increase their market shares substantially over the coming years. These three technologies combined would have to reach a market share in annual sales of about 30% of global light-duty vehicles by 2030.
A new Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) was launched in New York to increase the number of electric vehicles in cities. It is an initiative that will bring together these various actors from the “supply” (supply side) and the “demand” side(Cities and Multilateral Development) Banks.
A global Compact of Mayors – which brought together well over two thousands cities, including over 200 cities with specific targets and strategies for greenhouse gas reductions, was launched at today’s Climate Summit. Those cities with voluntary commitments are well on their way to reduce emissions by 454 Megatons by 2020. The Compact, as well as other announcements including a City Climate Finance Leadership Alliance and a City Creditworthiness Partnership will help cities expand their commitments to curb greenhouse gases. This is significant given the potential for the world’s cities to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 8 gigatons annually in 2050, according to research recently unveiled by UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael Bloomberg {unenvoy.mikebloomberg.com}. This reduction is the equivalent of 50 per cent of global coal use. This research is the first to quantify cities’ potential collective impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, suggests that national governments can be more ambitious in their emissions reduction commitments.
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Declaration on Climate Leadership resulted in over 350 commitments and actions from 110 public transport entities being undertaken in the lead up to the Summit. These actions contribute to UITP’s objective of doubling the market share of public transport around the world by 2025, announced at the Rio+20 Conference in 2012.

See the full UN announcement on Transport.