In remarks to the Second Global Sustainable Transport Conference, held in Beijing yesterday, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres commented that the world needs to work together to accelerate the decarbonization of the entire transport sector, noting that the world is now further from realising the Sustainable Development Goals on climate, ocean, and biodiversity than it was when they were agreed six years ago.
“While Member States have made some initial steps through the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization to address emissions from shipping and aviation, current commitments are not aligned with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. In fact, they are more consistent with warming way above 3°C,” said Guterres.
The UN Secretary General called for a new new set of more ambitious and credible targets that are truly consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. For the aviation industry, he called for the immediate use of sustainable aviation fuels in order to cut carbon emissions per passenger by 65% by 2050. He called on governments and financiers to work together to incentivize clean transport options, through standards and taxation, and by imposing “stricter regulation of infrastructure and procurement”, adding that Increased finance for climate adaptation was “essential for investment in sustainable, resilient transport systems, especially in developing countries”.