Sustainable Mobility for Future Cities Innovations, Partnerships, and Collaborative Frameworks

Despite the adoption of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, progress towards sustainable transport has fallen short. Approximately half of the world's urban population lacks convenient access to public transport, hindering their ability to meet basic needs and access essential services like employment, healthcare, and education. Inadequate and unsafe mobility services also present significant barriers to women's participation in the labor market.

The session will showcase the pivotal role of data, technology and partnerships in promoting sustainable mobility. Exploring the transformative journey towards sustainable urban mobility, the session will feature projects, which are considered best practice in employing a consolidated data and tech-driven approach to improve the availability and service levels of public transport as well as first-and last-mile connectivity including e-mobility solutions.

Drawing on global insights from projects in Kigali, Addis Ababa, Manila and Cairo, as well as global projects such as Strength_M, e-BRT 2030, SOLUTIONSplus, and GIANTS, the event highlights both challenges and success stories.

Participants will examine policy frameworks, technological advancements, and collaborative models essential for adopting sustainable and electric mobility solutions and enhancing data sharing for urban mobility.

While data offers insights into mobility patterns and behaviors, its full potential remains largely untapped due to issues such as data quality and availability. Only a fraction of cities worldwide possesses complete data on their transport systems, often resulting in suboptimal transport service levels, infrastructure, and regulatory measures.

The session will emphasize the importance of urban living labs as innovation hubs and the necessity of international cooperation for systemic change. It will also explore strategies focused on creating and maintaining digital databases for public transportation, particularly in emerging economies. This involves addressing data accessibility comprehensively to ensure no one is left behind.
Through presentations, and a panel discussion, stakeholders from academia, government, civil society, and the private sector will foster dialogue on several guiding questions:
• How can we ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to gathering relevant transport data?
• How can cities create and maintain digital databases for public transport?
• How can governments and organizations foster collaboration and partnerships to enhance data sharing?
• How can we facilitate knowledge transfer and support local innovation, thereby strengthening the local digital ecosystems?

Emphasizing actionable pathways for cities transitioning towards sustainable and zero-emission mobility, the session aims to contribute significantly to sustainable urban environments, providing participants with the knowledge and tools needed to drive systemic change.