The latest IPCC report reinforces that the climate crisis is the greatest threat to humanity. It also warns that efforts to limit global warming to 1.5C “will be out of reach” in the next decade without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, CO2 emissions from transport increased by 3% between 2010 and 2019, and more than 95% of the sector’s energy needs still come from oil and its derivatives.

As one of the most urbanized regions on the planet, the transformation of its transport sector is essential. By 2050, 80% of the population is projected to live in cities.

It is therefore necessary to implement available and cost-effective solutions to significantly reduce transport emissions, create co-benefits and change behaviour, while simultaneously providing sustainable transport and mobility services that are efficient, equitable, reliable, resilient, safe, accessible, and affordable.

In the framework of the Climate Breakthroughs, and recognizing the strategic role of the transport sector in climate action, the High-Level Champions have launched the “Zero Emissions Mobility: Commitment for Latin America and the Caribbean”. This initiative seeks to commit cities in the region to transform transport and implement measures in line with carbon neutrality.

With the support of UN Environment, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, SLOCAT, TUMI, ICLEI, C40, the initiative has developed a “playbook” aimed at authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean that provides a step-by-step guide to transforming public transport, identifying tools, key cases and experiences, recommendations, among others.

This commitment, now focused on the Latin American region, will be presented at COP26 and will continue throughout the next COP presidency.

For more information on this initiative, please contact: gmunoz@cop25.cl and andreadavila@climatechampions.team.

To support the dissemination and diffusion of this initiative please contact: macarena.castillo@giz.de