Net Zero Transport Plan for a City in Gujarat State, India

UNOPS
Net Zero Transport Plan for a City in Gujarat State, India Grant support-call for proposal

Reference: CFP-2023-57
Beneficiary countries or territories: Multiple destinations (see the Countries or territories tab)
Registration level: Basic
Published on: 10-Aug-2023
Deadline on: 03-Oct-2023 00:00 (GMT 2.00)

Description

The funding for the project is part of a proposed three-year Danish contribution to support UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) located in the UN City Copenhagen on the topic of Implementation of Low Carbon Transport in Cities. The topic will complement the work on Net Zero Strategy that is being undertaken in India for the state of Gujarat.

The Paris Agreement establishes a mechanism to fight climate change by contributing to the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2019, GHG emissions from Transport accounted for about 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, of which 70% are from road transport. Thus, urban transport is vital for mitigating GHG emissions within road transport. Even more so in fast developing Asian and African cities, where rapid urbanisation has resulted in a very high demand for motorised transport. Cities are rampant with congestion, and fossil fuel consumption significantly contributes to the ever-increasing GHG emission. With vehicle registration growing at more than 10% annually in many of these cities urgent actions are required.

De-carbonisation strategies use the “avoid-shift-improve” approach. Avoid and shift are travel demand management strategies and use changes in urban form, behaviour change, shared economy, circular economy, and digitalisation to reduce travel demand. Travel demand management can reduce transport-related energy demand in cities by 25%. Improve strategies rely on energy efficiency, electrification, and other green technologies such as advanced biofuels, fuel cells, etc., to achieve the remaining GHG emission reduction necessary for net-zero transport.

It is also important that net zero transport strategies consider gender and poverty in order to ensure inclusivity and address equity issues. Thus, accessible and affordable public transport, active transportation infrastructure and involved of all genders in transport strategy making and jobs will have to be part of any avoid-shift-improve frame approach to decarbonise transport.