Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report - 2nd edition 3.4 Urban Passenger and Freight Transport Key findings Demand trends Emission trends Public transport systems continued to grow between Transport emission shares from private passenger 2010 and 2020, led by strong growth in Asia (for bus cars in urban areas ranged from less than 10% in Dar rapid transit, light rail and metro) and Latin America es Salaam, Tanzania to more than 80% in Vancouver, (for bus rapid transit). The global rapid transit-to- Canada. Globally, cities report widely varying shares of resident ratio (a measure of these three urban services) transport carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, depending increased 5% between 2017 and 2019, with a 25% on their public transport investments, land-use patterns increase in China and a 13% increase in India. and supportive policies. While Europe accounts for the vast majority of urban Urban rail, with an average energy consumption of rail systems, the largest growth from 2010 to 2020 took 0.12 kilowatt-hours per passenger-kilometre, is seven place in Africa (333%), Asia (69%) and Oceania (50%). times more energy efficient per passenger than urban Worldwide development of bus rapid transit systems car trips. has declined significantly since its peak in 2014, although a gradual increase has occurred since 2018, Policy measures with nine new systems added during 2019-2020. Cities around the world set ambitious targets and made Paratransit (sometimes called “informal transport”) financial commitments during 2019-2020 to enhance remains the main motorised urban transport option in sustainable urban mobility. Africa and across cities in the developing world. Innovative pricing schemes for public transport, More than one-third of all urban trips globally are made including free models, have been introduced to on foot or by bicycle. As a large majority of trips in cities incentivise behavioural change. are less than 5 kilometres, walking and cycling can As an approach to reduce congestion, improve air substitute more than 40% of short car trips. quality and prioritise public transport, walking and Responses to Address Climate Change in the Transport Sector Change in the Transport Climate Address Responses to Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report - 2nd edition cycling, governments are exploring the use of low- Overview emission zones (LEZs), ultra-low-emission zones (ULEZs) and zero-emission zones (ZEZs). Between 2018 and 2020, global efforts to introduce and increase the quality of urban public transport, such as urban rail and bus As commercial operations in cities become major emitters of greenhouse gases and add rapid transit, resulted in a substantial increase in the share of to congestion, freight transport policies have sustainable transport modes. Urban passenger and freight transport received rising attention from both decision have focused not only on improving collective transport, but also makers and practitioners. on enhancing its accessibility, integrating different transport modes Freight policies aimed at improving the efficiency and improving road safety for other forms of urban transport such of last-mile delivery have increased in importance, as walking and cycling. The intermodality of walking, cycling and given that one-third of urban truck traffic is public transport plays a major role in establishing efficient, clean engaged in the pick-up of goods. and safe urban mobility. LEZs, ULEZs and ZEZs can also cover freight With the majority of the world’s people now living in cities, and this vehicles and can restrict the access of polluting share projected to reach 68% by 2050, low carbon mobility options vans and trucks to city centres. Freight vehicles represent 5% of road vehicles globally but for urban dwellers are increasingly needed in order to manage the contribute 27% of transport greenhouse gas inherent pressures on transport demand. This includes increased emissions and 50% of toxic air pollutants from provision and improvement of collective passenger transport transport. services, including public buses and metro systems. The penetration of electric trucks in global markets Public transport was hit the hardest (among all transport modes) for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is projected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with ridership and revenues falling to to reach 9.4% by 2030. unprecedented levels (see Box 1).1 Cities around the world have Many urban freight initiatives focus increasingly responded in various ways to ensure the safety and operation on delivery using (mostly electric-assist) cargo of services. Many used the interruptions as a time to accelerate bikes, including initiatives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; modernisation of payment systems, install temporary bicycle lanes Copenhagen, Denmark; Hamburg, Germany; and open up streets. Freight transport, after several years of constant Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Kigali, Rwanda and New York City, United States of America (USA). growth in e-commerce, experienced a steep increase in grocery, food and retail deliveries. The demand for last-mile deliveries grew during pandemic-related lockdowns. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic Due to the pandemic, public transport ridership dropped 90% globally from March to August 2020. Demand trends Meanwhile, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure expanded in more than 250 cities. Public transport systems continued to grow between 2010 and The cost of allowing public transport ridership 2020, led by strong growth in Asia (for bus rapid transit, light rail to collapse due to the pandemic – or reducing and metro) and Latin America (for bus rapid transit).2 The global services to serve only those with no alternatives – is rapid transit-to-resident ratio (a measure of these three urban much greater than the cost of taking measures to services) increased 5% between 2017 and 2019, with a 25% make public transport safer for users and workers. increase in China and a 13% increase in India.3 Asia continued Paratransit services have been impacted due to to dominate the metro rail market, while North America had the travel restrictions, reduced capacities and rising greatest total length of light rail systems, and bus rapid transit was costs. Revenue losses of 50% to 70% and lack of divided equally between Asia and Latin America (see Figure 1).4 government support brought many paratransit operators to the verge of bankruptcy. While Europe accounts for the vast majority of urban rail systems, The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an the largest growth from 2010 to 2020 took place in Africa (333%), unprecedented preference for e-commerce and Asia (69%) and Oceania (50%) (see Figure 2).5 Urban rail systems contactless deliveries (using either self-driving in Asia surpass many European urban rail systems in the number trucks or automated delivery robots), resulting in of passengers transported and lines in operation.6 Africa’s sharp a re-invigoration of start-ups focused on driverless increase in urban rail reflects growth starting from a low baseline, technologies. with new services inaugurated in Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco and The pandemic disrupted road freight networks Nigeria between 2015 and 2020.7 worldwide, although these were generally less affected than ocean and air freight. 2 Responses to Address Climate Change in the Transport Sector Change in the Transport Climate Address Responses to Urban Passenger and Freight Transport Figure 1. Growth in major public transport systems (bus rapid Several cities in Asia continued to expand their metro systems transit, light rail and metro) by region, 2010-2020 between 2018 and 2020, including Bangkok, Thailand; Delhi and Hyderabad, India; Manila, the Philippines; and cities in China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.8 Rapid expansion of urban rail systems also occurred in Bus Rapid Transit several Latin American cities. In 2019, Panama City, Panama inaugurated its second metro line (it aims to expand the network 1400 to five lines by 2040), and Brazil saw subway expansions in Rio n o 9 i de Janeiro and São Paulo. 1200 g e r r e 1000 p Worldwide development of bus rapid transit systems has declined res 800 t significantly since its peak in 2014, although a gradual increase e m o l has occurred since 2018, with nine new systems added during 600 i k l 10 a t 2019-2020 (see Figure 3). 400 o T 200 0 New bus rapid transit systems The first 2.9 kilometres of bus rapid transit lanes were introduced in Salvador, Brazil in 2020, as part of a planned 32-kilometre network along 3 lines and 10 stations.11 Light-Rail Transit At least two cities in China – Fuzhou in Jiangxi Province and Yongzhou in Hunan Province – opened bus rapid transit 2500 systems in 2019 and 2020.12 2250 n o i g Peshawar, Pakistan opened a bus rapid transit system in August 2000 e r r 13 1750 e 2020 with 28 kilometres of lanes (50% of them elevated). p 1500 res In the USA, bus rapid transit systems were opened in t e 1250 14 m Albuquerque, New Mexico and Oakland, California in 2020. o l 1000 i k l a 750 t o T 500 Expansion of bus rapid transit systems 250 Several cities in Brazil expanded their existing bus rapid 0 transit systems: Campinas developed a new 36-kilometre corridor that opened in 2020, and Rio de Janeiro extended the TransOceânica corridor in Niterói by 9.3 kilometres and Metro 13 stations.15 In 2019, new additions in bus rapid transit occurred in Amritsar, India and in Nouméa, New Caledonia (which 10000 n o 16 i added 22 electric buses). g e r 8000 r The Chinese cities Nanchang City and Shanghai expanded e p their bus rapid transit networks between 2019 and 2020.17 res 6000 t e m Warsaw, Poland added five dedicated bus lanes in 2020 o l i k (although these do not officially count as a bus rapid transit 4000 l a t o system by definition).18 T 2000 Additional exclusive bus lanes were added to the bus rapid 19 0 transit network in San Pedro, Costa Rica.