Green, active and integrated: mobility in focus at Cities Climate Action Summit

To support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, cities must continue their investment in the wider expansion of EV charging infrastructure. This includes deploying public charging stations, incentivising private investment in charging infrastructure, and integrating charging facilities into urban planning and development projects. By enhancing access to charging infrastructure, cities can address public concerns like range anxiety, a key barrier to EV adoption, and encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles. 

Active and shared mobility

While electric vehicles and more widely accessible charging infrastructure will be important tools in decarbonising urban transport networks, they are not the be all and end all. The Summit also emphasises the importance of transitioning to more active and shared modes of transport to reduce congestion, improve public health, and enhance urban liveability.

Active modes of transport, such as walking and cycling, offer sustainable and healthy alternatives to private car travel, particularly for short-distance trips. The Summit will focus on how cities can create safer and more accessible environments by investing in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, thereby promoting physical activity and reducing emissions from motorised transport.

Similarly, shared mobility services, including ride-sharing, carpooling, and micromobility solutions such as e-scooters and bike sharing, play a crucial role in optimising and decarbonising urban transportation systems. The Summit will help assess how maximising vehicle occupancy and reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road can help alleviate congestion and reduce emissions, all while enhancing mobility options for residents. 

Multimodality and mobility integration

Electric vehicles and shared mobility will not have the desired impact for cities unless services are joined up, however. It’s for this reason that the Summit also underscores the importance of integrated and multimodal transportation planning to create seamless and sustainable mobility networks. By coordinating different modes of transport, including public transit, walking, cycling, and shared mobility services, cities can provide residents with convenient and efficient travel options that minimise environmental impact and enhance quality of life

In addition to promoting sustainable transportation modes, the Summit highlights the role of smart and data-driven solutions in optimising urban mobility. Discussions will highlight how intelligent transportation systems leverage technology and real-time data to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance the efficiency of public transit services.

Panels and presentations will include case studies on how cities are deploying smart traffic management systems, dynamic pricing mechanisms, and real-time passenger information systems to optimise the use of existing infrastructure and resources, while reducing emissions from idling vehicles and inefficient travel patterns.

As the Cities Climate Action Summit convenes leaders and stakeholders from around the world, it reaffirms the critical importance of transportation in shaping the future of sustainable cities. By embracing electric mobility, developing EV infrastructure, promoting active and shared modes of transport, and leveraging smart transportation solutions, cities can pave the way towards cleaner, more efficient, and more equitable urban mobility systems. As urban populations continue to grow, the Summit serves as a rallying cry for collective action to transform transportation and build resilient, sustainable cities for future generations.