World Sustainable Transport Day, celebrated every year on 26 November, takes on special significance this year as we count down to the new UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.
Sustainable transport connects communities, ensuring access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities. It underpins resilient economies by creating jobs, supporting livelihoods, reducing poverty and strengthening overall community resilience.
Following the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, this year’s World Sustainable Transport Day focuses the road transport sector towards the new UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035).
The Decade, beginning on 1 January 2026, has six strategic pillars: equitable access; decarbonisation and access; logistics efficiency; people-centred urban mobility; safe and clean transport; and science, technology and innovation.
Delivering on the Decade’s ambitions will rely on practical, proven tools – including UN conventions such as TIR and CMR, as well as IRU’s professionalisation and certification solutions and its Green Compact decarbonisation tools.
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “As we mark the third World Sustainable Transport Day, we’ve already seen good progress on sustainability awareness. The upcoming UN Decade of Sustainable Transport will build on this momentum.
“A successful UN Decade will be measured by results on the ground. IRU’s focus therefore is on practical and pragmatic tools to support governments and the road transport industry to drive real change. Let’s seize the opportunity and make mobility and logistics even safer, more efficient and greener for all.
“On behalf of the IRU family, I wish everyone a happy World Sustainable Transport Day.”
The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to designate a UN World Sustainable Transport Day at its 77th session in May 2023. The resolution, put forward by the government of Turkmenistan, followed IRU’s initial proposal for a dedicated World Transport Day.