The first-ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport kicked off in January 2026.
The Decade is an opportunity to raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally.
Transport is reflected in several SDGs and recognised as an enabler for achieving many of the goals.
Both the political recognition of sustainable transport and the understanding of transport’s linkages with issues such as resilient infrastructure development, food security, economic growth, trade, global supply chains, promotion of health, energy efficiency and sustainability have greatly advanced in recent years.
Spotlight on road transport
At the launch of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP30 Presidency, and Brazil’s Ministry of Transport released a landmark statement that puts the pivotal role of road transport in achieving COP30 goals and the Decade’s implementation activities firmly in the spotlight.
The statement aligns COP30 action with the goals of the Decade. Its commitments include:
- Ratifying and implementing key UN transport conventions, including the global TIR transit system
- Building capacity and mobilising evidence-based tools and resources to accelerate the adoption of sustainable road transport solutions
- Integrating national and institutional policies and laws with the six strategic pillars of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (equitable access; decarbonisation and access; logistics efficiency; people-centred urban mobility; safe and clean transport; and science, technology and innovation)
- Fostering technology neutrality, sustainable innovation and digitalisation as drivers of efficiency and transparency in transport management
With this pragmatic resolution, the UNFCCC, COP30 Presidency, and Brazil’s Ministry of Transport showed their willingness to mobilise available UN tools, international cooperation and innovation to make transport even more sustainable for everyone globally.
It sets a clear roadmap for public-private collaboration to drive a successful UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.
IRU is committed to working with governments to develop sustainable transport solutions while driving economic growth, social equity and environmental protection at the global, regional and national levels.
UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035)
The first-ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport kicked off in January 2026.
The Decade is an opportunity to raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally.
Transport is reflected in several SDGs and recognised as an enabler for achieving many of the goals.
Both the political recognition of sustainable transport and the understanding of transport’s linkages with issues such as resilient infrastructure development, food security, economic growth, trade, global supply chains, promotion of health, energy efficiency and sustainability have greatly advanced in recent years.
Spotlight on road transport
At the launch of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP30 Presidency, and Brazil’s Ministry of Transport released a landmark statement that puts the pivotal role of road transport in achieving COP30 goals and the Decade’s implementation activities firmly in the spotlight.
The statement aligns COP30 action with the goals of the Decade. Its commitments include:
With this pragmatic resolution, the UNFCCC, COP30 Presidency, and Brazil’s Ministry of Transport showed their willingness to mobilise available UN tools, international cooperation and innovation to make transport even more sustainable for everyone globally.
It sets a clear roadmap for public-private collaboration to drive a successful UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.
IRU is committed to working with governments to develop sustainable transport solutions while driving economic growth, social equity and environmental protection at the global, regional and national levels.
A history of sustainability
In 1996, IRU was the first global transport organisation to launch a sustainable development charter, which was then enshrined into IRU’s Constitution.
Then in 2021, the road transport industry made a global commitment – with the IRU Green Compact – to decarbonise by 2050.
The Green Compact outlines a clear, pragmatic and holistic roadmap for the industry to meet global decarbonisation targets while continuing to provide transport services for the people, communities and economies that depend on them.
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