The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia
The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) aims to facilitate a paradigm shift to zero-emission transport across Asia. SLOCAT – jointly with GIZ, WRI, ITF, ICCT, Agora Verkehrswende and REN21 – is part of this project funded by the International Climate Initiative of Germany to support China, India, and Vietnam on the development of coherent strategies for policy approaches coordinated between ministries, civil society and the private sector.
SLOCAT supports the outreach and engagement activities of the project at the regional and global levels. This involves work to enhance synergies across climate action and sustainability agendas. It also rolled out through the curation of multi-stakeholder dialogue and understanding; as well as peer knowledge exchange for policymakers and technical experts.
The regional initiative aims at a holistic approach to decarbonize the transport sector in India, China and Vietnam. This includes, for example, the development of a coherent strategy for efficient policy approaches which is coordinated between various sector ministries, civil society and the private sector.
The transport sector accounts for 23% of the global energy-related CO₂ emissions (IEA 2017). The Chinese transport sector alone caused 781 Mt CO2e emissions in 2014. Together with India (231 Mt CO2e) and Vietnam (32 Mt CO2e), the three countries emitted about 1 Gt CO2e in 2014 (IEA 2017). Rapid economic growth combined with an ongoing urbanisation trend and increasing motorisation lead to a further increase in traffic amount in the three partner countries. Therefore, the transition to a decarbonisation path for the transport sector in Asia is essential to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement for 2050.
In each of the partner countries, the consortium supports the design and information of stakeholder processes and the development of selected climate protection measures. In this way, the partners are supported in making their sectoral contributions to the achievement of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement and in raising their ambitions for long-term strategies and the 2025 NDCs.
As a regional initiative, the programme disseminates appropriate knowledge in Asia via existing platforms. By linking with regional stakeholders and other Asian countries, it contributes to promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonising transport. At the global level, the programme will contribute its experience to the UNFCCC process.
Activities and updates
Jointly implemented by GIZ, WRI, ITF, International Council on Clean Transportation, Agora Verkehrswende and REN21, under the International Climate Initiative of the German Ministry of Environment.
Strategic guidance to the Council for Decarbonizing Transport in Asia.
Highlight of NDC-TIA projects in the SLOCAT Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report - 2nd edition: Financing for Transport and Climate Change chapter.
Support to the virtual kick-off of the India Component in August.
Moderation of the Women on the Move Network launch event at the Transport and Climate Change Week, co-organised with GIZ.
Leveraged the LEDS GP network to share NDC-TIA activities, and the MPGCA network for planning activities leading up to the Asia Pacific Regional Climate Week in July, along with COP26 engagement in November.
NDC-TIA at CEM14/M18
The CEM14/MI-8 side event, Accelerating the energy transition in Asia’s transport through sustainable and equitable e-mobility, brought together government representatives and practitioners from across the NDC-TIA and Leadership Group for Clean Transport in Asia (LG-CTA) network to discuss the development of transport decarbonization pathways and strategies in Asian countries. It was an enriching experience, with insightful discussions, impactful presentations, and meaningful networking opportunities. The roundtable included representatives from various organizations, including NITI Aayog, CESL, NREL, Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Kingdom of the Netherlands, DHL Group, OMI foundation, Agora Verkehrswende, ICCT, ITF, SLOCAT Partnership, WRI India, and GIZ.
In light of India’s G20 presidency in 2023, and with emerging economies at the helm of the intergovernmental forum in 2022 (Indonesia), 2024 (Brazil), and 2025 (South Africa), this report seeks to support global discussions surrounding sustainable transport and the effort to achieve the goals stipulated in international climate accords, especially the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Declaration. The report was first presented at a G20 working meeting in Panaji, the capital of the Indian state of Goa, on 19 July 2023, together with the public policy think tank of the Government of India NITI Aayog.
The document is an update of the report “Towards Decarbonising Transport 2018. A Stocktake on Sectoral Ambition in the G20”, published by Agora Verkehrswende, GIZ, and REN21. A consortium of seven leading research and international cooperation institutes, under the umbrella of the NDC Transport Initiative Asia, has contributed to the new edition of the report. Agora Verkehrswende completed the work with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), SLOCAT, WRI, ICCT, ITF, and REN21. The project was supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Lessons learnt blog post series
In a new series, NDC-TIA partners offer insights into lessons learned through the country components in India, China and Vietnam.