Sustainable transport for a livable future

SDG 9: Building Resilient Infrastructure, Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization, and Fostering Innovation

Introduction

The Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. This goal recognizes the importance of transportation in providing access to economic, health, and education opportunities. However, there are still significant challenges in terms of infrastructure availability and sustainability.

Expanding Reliable Infrastructure

One of the targets of SDG 9 is to expand the availability of reliable infrastructure, including transport, to support human and economic development. Currently, globally, around 1 billion people live at least 2 kilometers away from a good road, which limits their access to jobs, healthcare, and schools. Achieving this target is crucial for reducing inequalities and improving overall well-being.

Transportation and Climate Change

Transportation, including road, air, and sea transport, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change. The transportation sector accounts for a quarter of global CO2 emissions and about 16 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. If transportation networks continue to rely on fossil fuels, emissions are projected to increase by almost 60 percent by 2050.

Decarbonizing the Transport Sector

Road transport is responsible for 75 percent of the transportation sector’s global CO2 emissions, followed by shipping and aviation. Decarbonizing the transport sector is crucial for addressing climate change. Countries need to expand access to sustainable and clean transport options while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the sector. This can be achieved through the widespread adoption of stringent emission standards for vehicles, urban and territorial planning that prioritizes public transport, cycling, and walking, and the adoption of new technologies.

Exploring Global CO2 Emissions from Transport

For a detailed understanding of how different transport sectors contribute to global CO2 emissions, refer to the data visualization provided in the 2023 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals.

COVID-19 Impact and Future Trends

The ninth chapter of the Atlas provides data stories and visualizations on how COVID-19 affected global transport volumes, the largest sources of greenhouse gases from transportation, and the growing demand for transportation in lower-income countries. These insights can help inform policy decisions and interventions to ensure sustainable and resilient transport systems.

Open Data and Open Code Approach

In line with the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, the Atlas follows an open data and open code approach. All data, code, and visualizations are available for download and reuse, promoting transparency and collaboration in achieving the SDGs.

References:

• SDG target 9.1
• 2023 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Data Explorer
• Electric Vehicles Report
• World Bank Publication on Transport Emissions

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article specifically mentions SDG 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. The issues discussed in the article, such as access to reliable infrastructure and the need to decarbonize the transport sector, are directly connected to SDG 9.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.

The article mentions SDG target 9.1, which aims to expand the availability of reliable infrastructure, including transport, that can support human and economic development. This target is relevant to the issue of ensuring access to better economic, health, and education opportunities by improving transportation infrastructure.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator: CO2 emissions from the transportation sector
• Indicator: Percentage of global CO2 emissions from the transportation sector

The article mentions that the transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. It provides specific data on the percentage of global CO2 emissions and CO2 emissions per person from different sub-sectors of transportation. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards decarbonizing the transport sector and achieving sustainable infrastructure.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

The table summarizes the findings from analyzing the article. It lists SDG 9 as the relevant goal, target 9.1 as the specific target, and the indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the target.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: blogs.worldbank.org

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