The Urban Electric Mobility Vehicles Initiative (UEMI) phase out conventionally fuelled vehicles and increase the share of electric vehicles in the total volume of individual motorized transport in cities to at least 30% by 2030, to achieve a 30% reduction of CO2 emissions in urban areas by 2050. 

High-Impact Area:Transportation

Problem Statement: The transport sector is responsible for nearly 22% of global energy related CO₂ emissions, of which more than 40% are attributable to urban transport. 

Objective: UEMI’s objective is to phase out  conventionally fuelled vehicles and increase the share of electric vehicles in the total volume of individual motorized transport in cities to at-least 30% by 2030. This will result in significant reduction of CO₂ emissions contributing to the target of limiting global temperature increase. The global population, particularly those vulnerable to the impacts of climate change will benefit. City residents will also benefit from better air quality and reduced incidence of health problems and pre-mature deaths caused by air pollution including from particulate matter. The initiative will also stimulate new and low-carbon economic development, creating new jobs.  

Going Forward:

Upcoming key events in lead up to COP21: UEMI to feature in UN-Habitat Governing Council (2015); Resolution on UEMI WUF 8 (2016); Habitat III (2016) to feature UEMI as a pillar of the new urban agenda.

Stakeholders engaging through the UEMI: Supply side commitments by industry including vehicle and battery manufacturers, energy producers, distributors and renewables to promote E-Vehicles will be complemented by demand side pledges by governments, cities and  financial institutions to provide incentives,

Stakeholders:

• Leadership Group: UN-Habitat, International Energy Agency, UN Global Compact, Clean Energy Ministerial (with representation from USA, China and UAE)
• Member State partners: China, Germany, India, USA
• Business partners: BYD Auto, Jiangsu Aima, Mahindra Reva, Siemens AG and others
• Civil society partners: Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport ( SLoCAT), World EV Cities and Ecosystems
• Knowledge partners: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, International Transport Forum (ITF)
• Financing partners: Asian Development Bank, EBRD and other MDBs