Steering a Green, Healthy, and Inclusive Recovery Through Transport

On 24 June, the paper: Steering a green, healthy, and inclusive recovery through transport/Green Recovery paper by the World Resources Institute and the TDA was launched. This document reviews recovery-related stimulus and policies within the transport sector and offers long-term considerations for decision-makers to shape an economic recovery that links climate, equity, health, and safety. Commissioned by the TDA this working paper contributes to the TDA’s framework of uniting countries, cities/regions, and companies actions to decarbonise passenger and freight transportation.

Executive Summary

Highlights

The pandemic and resulting economic fallout have upended means of mobility, such as public transport and air travel. 

This report evaluates how countries, cities, and companies have allocated funds, directed policies, or launched actions that impact the transport sector. It provides evidence of how these interventions could shape long-term economic recovery that addresses climate, health, safety, and equity goals

This study analyses roughly US$298 billion in global stimulus funds committed to the transport sector between March 2020 and February 2021. Of these funds, roughly 44 percent have gone to subsectors with positive implications for climate and sustainability goals.

We are at a critical moment to steer national investments, local and country-level regulations, and private-sector commitments toward sustainable transport.

This paper identifies several intersectional opportunities and explores five key opportunities and action areas for transport decarbonisation and public-private participation for countries, cities, and companies.

These areas are public transport, walking and bicycling, vehicle electrification, rail, and research and development (R&D). Actions in these areas can help decarbonise transport while creating jobs, increasing equity, improving road safety, and reducing air pollution