Foreign
A capacity-building workshop on Sustainable Transport kicked off on 14 December 2024 in Addis Ababa at ECA’s headquarters. The workshop provides a platform for sharing of experiences and lessons learned from Landlocked Developing Countries, LLDCs, in advancing sustainable transport and in ensuring that transport contributes to the overall attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It also seeks to familiarize national governments with the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport and the 2024-2034 Program of Action for LLDCs.
In his opening remarks, Robert Lisinge, Director of the Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Development Division of ECA, said “the notion of sustainability underpins ECA’s work on transport and the Commission intervenes across the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable transport” .
He added that “from an environmental perspective, ECA promotes the transition to green energy in the transport sector, particularly the use of electric vehicles. ECA is also interested in exploring the application of green hydrogen in the transport sector.”
Robert Lisinge further noted that partnerships, digitalisation and emerging technologies are key in achieving sustainable transport.
In her remarks, Riina Jussila from the UNDESA emphasized that “while sustainable transport has been a crucial part of the work of the United Nations for decades, two General Assembly resolutions adopted in 2023 have re-energized actions on transport at UN Headquarters”.
She also mentioned that “transport’s role in SDG implementation has only grown in recent years, including as a result of recurring supply chain disruptions due to the covid-19 pandemic, climate impacts, ongoing conflicts and other challenges”.
Transport experts and policymakers from Africa, South America and Asia called for more regional cooperation, solidarity among countries and the development and implementation of national and regional tools to promote more sustainable movement of people and goods.
Delegates recognized that the Africa region is set to witness transformative changes particularly in transport and digitalisation, including the adoption of electric vehicles, smart mobility and digitalised freight systems, while progressively implementing regional initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market, SAATM, the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa, PIDA, and other initiatives.
31st January, 2025.
C.E.
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