Mobility is an essential aspect of life. With urbanization on the rise, cities are the focal points where safe, accessible, efficient, and sustainable mobility is needed for all. Dramatically increasing passenger and freight transport can pose a threat not only to the global climate, but also to the urban environment, citizen health and livability in cities.

The way we move and how goods are transported is always evolving. Change has traditionally focused on speed, cost, safety, comfort or flexibility. Whilst all these continue to drive innovation a new overarching priority will shape tomorrow’s mobility: how can we reduce transport-related emissions and make mobility sustainable?

The term sustainable mobility goes far beyond reducing emissions. The transport sector has the potential to improve the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. However, as well as meeting people’s needs today, the sector must be ready to respond to future generations’ expectations: this is the essence of sustainable development.

The European Union Council of Ministers of Transport, has defined a sustainable transportation system as one that “allows the basic access and development needs of individuals, companies and society to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem health, and promotes equity within and between successive generations.”

The United Nations has defined   sustainable transport as “the provision of services and infrastructure for   the mobility of people and goods— advancing economic and social development   to benefit today’s and future generations—in a manner that is safe, affordable, accessible, efficient, and resilient, while minimizing carbon and   other emissions and environmental impact.”

A range of innovative mobility trends, including shared mobility, and providing affordable and sustainable mobility options for people, can help achieve global sustainability goals.

“Transport is not an end in itself but rather a means, allowing people to access what   they need: jobs, markets and goods, social interaction, education, and a full range of other services contributing to healthy and fulfilled lives.” UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport

Shared Mobility

Shared mobility can play a key role in reducing emissions as well as congestion. By sharing various modes of transport (cars, scooters, e-bikes) we can avoid owned vehicles standing idle for most of the day and optimize the use of vehicles by doing more with less. ‘Ownership’, in which people do not own the means of transportation but pay per use,- has already started to change our habits, especially in urban areas.

According to research conducted by MIT on the benefits of shared mobility, this type of mobility could also reduce the occupation of parking spaces in cities by 86 per cent, freeing up precious public space and radically rethinking how space is used.

Public Transport

Improving the quality and quantity of public transport services is one of the most efficient ways of reducing both emissions and congestion. The real competitor of collective transport is individual transport, so it is crucial to offer services of good quality and high frequency.

Countries or cities that invest the most in public transport systems are also those with the highest shares of modal split. For example, a recent study showed that the availability of rail infrastructure and services has a direct influence on modal split and greenhouse gas emissions.

Smart Mobility

Digital technologies enable automated mobility and smart traffic management, making transport more efficient and thus reducing emissions. Intelligent transport systems will play a key role in making mobility more efficient on our roads, on the water and in the air.

For example, peer-to-peer, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity can support sustainable trip choices, allow for multimodal transport, improve access to public transport and reduce congestion as well as fuel consumption. Connectivity can optimize travel mode and route selection, improving traffic flow and reducing fuel consumption.

Automated vehicle control promises to improve energy efficiency, safety, and convenience. With each level of automation and improved connectivity, fuel consumption is reduced.

Access to Mobility

Sustainable mobility also includes the important notion of access to mobility, regardless of income or location.

Sustainable mobility includes equity in accessibility, with particular attention to more vulnerable groups of the population and geographical areas at risk of social exclusion.

Walking and Cycling

The promotion of soft mobility is a simple way to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life, especially in urban areas.

Safety

Sustainable mobility must also be safe mobility. By leveraging technology and innovation, the number of transport-related deaths and injuries will be reduced.

Road accidents are one of the main causes of preventable mortality. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report indicated that 1.35 million people die each year on our roads, and it is the leading cause of death for children and young adults between 5 and 29 years of age.

Tens of millions more are injured or disabled every year. Sustainable mobility must also be safe mobility. By leveraging technology and innovation, the number of transport-related deaths and injuries will be reduced.

Reducing emissions from every mode of transport

In parallel with increasing efficiency, ‘decarbonizing’ transport is vital. For around 200 years, we have relied on fossil sources to power transport. We need to shift to renewable sources, fast. This means a fundamental shift, and all solutions will be needed.