10 December 2025 - The launch of the first ever United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) and its widely anticipated Implementation Plan brought together transport leaders from governments, the United Nations system, local authorities, the private sector, civil society and youth organizations from around the world today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Outlining six focus areas and means of implementation, the Implementation Plan is the result of a participatory consultation process, and provides a roadmap to align policies, finance, technology and data with sustainable transport to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. 

“This consultative and inclusive process has opened new avenues for cooperation, and we have been privileged to lead it. It has brought together governments, industry, civil society, academia and the UN system in ways that will strengthen coordination and lay the foundation for new partnerships in the years ahead,” said Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, who leads the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations.  

Sustainable transport is about cleaner mobility and safer systems, extending markets, shaping access to jobs, schools and heath care, and enabling the movements of goods and services. It is fundamental to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, with synergies to poverty eradication, good health, climate action, gender equality, education and beyond. With transport demand set to more than double by 2050, mobility-related choices made in the coming decade can lock in sustainable development pathways.

Strong commitments from all will be crucial in the coming Decade to boost global efforts towards sustainable, inclusive, and resilient mobility. The launch event also unveiled 83 concrete commitments submitted from around the world, with billions of financial resources committed, including a major push towards clean and fairer mobility, active mobility, zero-emission road transport, transport-related capacity building, transport data and reporting, among others.

Announcements include but not limited to:

  • Liner shipping has committed USD 150 billion to build 1,035 dual fuel ships by 2030, designed to run on low and zero greenhouse gas fuels.
  • Thousands of fast EV chargers to be installed in Austria by 2030;
  • Major electrification programmes benefiting millions in Ethiopia;
  • 20,000 public transport professionals to be trained by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).


Key links:
Website of the Decade of Sustainable Transport
Implementation Plan of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport
Programme and speakers of the 10 December 2025 Launch Event 
Voluntary Commitments submitted for the Decade of Sustainable Transport