
Include specific transport sector carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation targets supported by sustainable transport measures
Setting specific targets to mitigate carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) from the transport sector can unleash the sector’s large potential to contribute to climate mitigation and the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement. It may be helpful to set goals for specific sub-sectors of transport, such as cars, road freight, and aviation.
Sustainable transport measures support the achievement of these climate mitigation targets, while simultaneously addressing climate adaptation, as well as the health, equity, and social cohesion goals of the global sustainable development agenda. They are also generally easy to communicate and understand.
Some examples include:
- setting targets to increase the fleet size of electric bicycles,
- expanding km/mi of mass transit,
- replacing domestic flights with high-speed rail,
- phasing out the sale and use of internal combustion engines,
- increasing the share of walking to X% by 2025.
Include specific transport sector carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation targets supported by sustainable transport measures

Engage different actors - work with cities and regions, companies, civil society and academia to develop robust and implementable transport targets
Engage relevant stakeholders in a transparent, inclusive, and meaningful process to co-define knowledge-based targets and implementation frameworks in your NDC. Take into account the different capacities of each sector, and ensure the inclusion of the informal transport sector.
Cities and regions are where the majority of low carbon and sustainable transport measures are implemented, delivering key services and direct emissions reductions, while influencing more ambitious climate action by other actors. Regions play an important connecting role between national and city-level policy making. Ensure that your NDC includes institutional, legal and financial frameworks that enable and empower subnational transport action; as well as coordination of efforts across different levels of government.
Engage different actors – work with cities and regions, companies, civil society and academia to develop robust and implementable transport targets

Maximise combined transport, climate and sustainability impacts - Use your NDC to align and integrate sustainable low carbon transport strategies with your Paris Agreement Long-Term Strategy and wider sustainable development priorities
Many countries are now setting economy-wide, net zero carbon targets for 2050, specifically including plans to decarbonise transport in order to achieve these goals. Use your NDC as an opportunity to reiterate the link between sustainable transport and climate action, and catalyse coordination and collaboration across different ministries and departments.
Sustainable, low carbon transport is crucial to the realisation of sustainable development, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Safe, efficient, affordable and low carbon mobility can accelerate the path to meet our shared health, clean energy, sustainable cities, and biodiversity goals (SDGs 3, 7, 11, 15), while significantly increasing equitable access to jobs and socio-economic opportunities for women and girls, and people of all ages and abilities (SDGs 5, 8,9,10).
Finally, behavioural change and social innovation must be incentivised by all levels of government, including through economic and financial policy instruments, without unduly burdening the most vulnerable and those most often left behind.
Maximise combined transport, climate and sustainability impacts – Use your NDC to align and integrate sustainable low carbon transport strategies with your Paris Agreement Long-Term Strategy and wider sustainable development priorities

Incorporate Avoid, Shift, and Improve strategies to reduce the negative environmental impact of transport and increase equitable access
Include strategies and policies which primarily focus on avoiding unnecessary transport, while shifting to low carbon modes, and improving vehicle design, fuel efficiency and energy sources. Improve measures can deliver defined reductions in the short-term – but in the longer-term, an estimated 50% of emission reductions will come from avoid and shift policies, which must be implemented as soon as possible.
Consider including holistic, systems-thinking solutions in your NDC, such as parking standards, reduced packaging to reduce freight volume, and online and in-home services to avoid transport demand.
A modal shift to public transport can serve multiple benefits, such as reducing daily travel emissions, improving air quality, and reducing productivity and economic losses caused by road congestion from private passenger vehicles. Shifting to active mobility by supporting improvements in walking and cycling infrastructure can significantly reduce emissions and increase equity in access to mobility, especially for the most vulnerable, while supporting healthy lifestyles.
Find out more about the Avoid-Shift-Improve strategies here.
Incorporate Avoid, Shift, and Improve strategies to reduce the negative environmental impact of transport and increase equitable access

Shift financing and investment towards low carbon and resilient transport priorities, while making plans to eliminate transport sector fossil fuel subsidies and working to phase out internal combustion engines by the earliest date possible
Investments in low carbon and resilient mobility systems offer financial savings and quality of life benefits beyond the scale and budget of the investments themselves. To enable delivery, ensure that your NDC contains specific measures to finance sustainable and resilient low carbon transport; including plans to shift investment away from high carbon transport towards lower carbon measures, such as rail, freight, public transport, walking, and cycling. Negative externalities must be included in transport prices, starting with the most polluting modes. Meaningful carbon pricing and tax exemptions can be impactful approaches.
Until now, public subsidies for fossil fuels have largely locked society into carbon-intensive road transport. Moving towards decarbonised transport systems will require the reform of transport subsidies in a manner that is socially, environmentally and economically responsible. The elimination of fossil fuel subsidies enables the acceleration of clean mobility and releases the resources needed to implement low carbon solutions.
Shift financing and investment towards low carbon and resilient transport priorities, while making plans to eliminate transport sector fossil fuel subsidies and working to phase out internal combustion engines by the earliest date possible