Changing Transport Update

Dear ,

As the year draws to a close, this issue brings together key reflections and forward-looking insights from our work on transforming transport. We share highlights from our recent webinar, 'Key Insights on Transport at COP30', and look back at the high-level 'Pathways to Advancing E-Mobility in Africa' event in Berlin. We also invite you to help shape our knowledge platform by taking part in a short feedback survey.

We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our warm season's greetings and sincerely thank you for your continued engagement and collaboration throughout the year. Let’s recharge and prepare for the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport!

Enjoy the read,

Your GIZ Changing Transport Team

Share your thoughts!

Launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport

In 2023, the General Assembly declared the first ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026. The Decade will be an opportunity to further raise awareness of transport’s crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to gather and rally new solutions, resources and partnerships to advance sustainable transport globally.

The General Assembly, through resolution 78/148 titled “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” also called for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to develop an Implementation Plan for the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, in collaboration with the UN Regional Commissions and in consultation with the Member States, the United Nations system and all other relevant stakeholders.

GIZ is stepping up through three voluntary commitments that directly support the Decade’s Implementation Plan:

RIDE – Research for Infrastructure in Developing Economies - because bold decisions need strong evidence.
Transport Data Commons Initiative (TDCI) - because better data means better policy.
MobilizeMinds – Building Human Capacity - because research and data alone don’t transform transport - people do.

High-Level Event: Pathways to Advancing E-mobility in Africa

Over the past two years, the Rethinking Transport project, implemented by GIZ and Agora Verkehrswende, has convened experts and stakeholders from over 20 African countries to identify priority actions for advancing sustainable transport across the continent. Building on these exchanges, the dialogue in Berlin focused on pathways to scale electric mobility in Africa.

Through the GIZ–Agora Fellowship we learned what a think tank does and what kind of data is needed to push for policies in Africa. This inspired us to start the African Mobility Research Hub.

Edna Mercy
E-Mobility Expert, Africa Mobility Hub

Key Insights on Transport at COP30

The webinar “Key Insights on Transport at COP30” was conceived as a forum for analysis and technical reflection to delve deeper into the results of the negotiations, to highlight transport’s strategic role in climate action, and to present key advances linked to the Ministerial Declaration for a Global Transport Effort, as well as the challenges and opportunities projected for the Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026–2035.

Learn more

PUBLICATIONS

Check out our selected studies, reports and other recent publications!

Factsheet

How to Distinguish CO2 and other Emission Standards

This factsheet aims to clarify the crucial difference between CO₂ standards and other emission standards, explaining how each serves a distinct purpose and why understanding this distinction matters for effective climate action.

Technical Insight and Policy Rationale

Fuel Economy Standards in Kenya

This paper explores the case for introducing fuel economy standards in Kenya, examining international best practices, current national policies, and opportunities for alignment with global regulatory trends.

Global Expert Database for Feminist Transport

“We can’t find any women experts for our events” is no longer an excuse. The Global Expert Database for Feminist Transport brings together experts from around the world working on transport, mobility, and feminist approaches, making gender expertise more visible and accessible.

Open to women in the transport sector as well as to experts of all genders specialising in feminist transport, the database supports more inclusive panels, research, and decision-making spaces — from established leaders to emerging professionals.

Explore the database

NEW PROJECT

RIDE: Research on Infrastructure in Developing Economies

On 1st DEC we started a new project funded by the British Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) the Research on Infrastructure in Developing Economies (RIDE) Programme. It was officially launched in New York on December 10, attached to the launch event of the UN Decade on Sustainable Transport.

RIDE’s vision is to make the transport sector more evidence- and data-driven, investment-ready, and innovative. As we look toward the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport, RIDE aims not only to close research gaps, but to redefine how evidence shapes policy decisions, investment choices and how to better bring research into practice. Designed as platform programme RIDE is envisioned to attract further co-funders and implementors throughout the next decade.

RIDE will be implemented in a consortia approach with the World Resources Institute (WRI), the British Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), the Shell Foundation and with GIZ as lead partner.

Find out more