Get your NDC 3.0 ready!
Guidelines, tools and resources
to increase transport ambition in the next generation of NDCs
The global emissions of the transport sector are heading in the wrong direction, accounting for the fastest-growing source of emissions around the world. We must change this trend now and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underlines that a pathway for transport which contributes to maintaining global temperature rise below 1.5°C is possible. Transport enables prosperity and livelihoods. In 2021, the sector contributed 7% (USD 6.8 trillion) of the global gross domestic product and employed 5.6% of the world’s workforce (193 million people). Therefore in this era of climate emergency, it is as important as ever that countries set more ambitious, robust and actionable targets and roadmaps for the decarbonisation, the adaptation to climate change impacts and the resilience of transport and mobility systems – in a just transition.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER
Global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak before 2025, followed by rapid and deep emission reductions throughout 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as assessed by the IPCC. The transport sector accounted for 20.7% of global CO2 emissions in 2022. Achieving transport pathways that align with the 1.5°C target will require at least a 59% reduction in global transport CO2 emissions by 2050.
Thus, the NDC 3.0 needs to enhance action on sustainable, low carbon transport. The COP28 Global Stocktake Outcome encourages countries to accelerate the reduction of emissions from road transport on a range of pathways, including through development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero- and low-emission vehicles.
Partnership in action on NDC 3.0
Check out what the transport community is doing
NDC Transport Tracker is a database on ambition, targets and policies in NDCs and Long-Term Strategies.
The GIZ-SLOCAT NDC Transport Tracker pays special attention to the level of ambition of the transport sector in the NDCs with the focus on target-setting, adaptation and resilience in transport and the scope of transport sub-sectors included.
Ten Recommendations to Raise Ambition for Transport in NDCs
As we collectively work to update and raise ambition in the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (or NDCs – efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), we would like to share a set of key recommendations for ways countries can scale up transport ambition in their NDCs.
Work with cities and regions, companies, civil society and academia to develop robust and implementable targets.
Align and integrate sustainable low carbon transport strategies with your Long-Term Emissions Development Strategies, national policy and wider sustainable development priorities.
Incorporate Avoid, Shift, and Improve strategies to reduce the negative environmental impact of transport and increase equitable access.
Shift finance towards low carbon and resilient transport priorities, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and phase out internal combustion engines.
Integrate urban, transport and land use planning policies and tools to support the achievement of your
transport targets
Set goals and mode-specific measures for the adaptation and resilience of
transport systems.
Accelerate electrification of buses, cars, vans and 2- and 3-wheelers powered by renewable energy sources.
Address freight transport emissions, which account for 40% of energy use in the transport sector.
Include goals on aviation and maritime transport – two of the fastest growing sectors.
