Walking and cycling - A Path to unlock the potential of active mobility to meet climate goals and make our cities more liveable

Enabling more people to walk and cycle safely is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement and numerous SDGs. Yet walking and cycling historically have lacked priority in the transport and mobility mix and the wider climate and sustainability agenda. The Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH) was founded in 2022 to fast-track the achievement of climate goals by unlocking more of walking and cycling’s potential, including by:
• Quantifying, advancing understanding of the issues and co-benefits of walking and cycling and drawing attention to the crucial role they have to play in achieving urgent climate goals
• Building and coordinating a global coalition of active travel advocates and supporters, and leveraging and amplifying the work of coalition partners and other key stakeholders
• Recruiting high-level champions to the cause
• Providing guidance, tools and assistance to catalyse further action by policy makers and to enable effective active travel support in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Advocating for further change at COPs and other relevant arenas.
PATH is the first global active mobility coalition of its kind, consisting of coordinating partners FIA Foundation, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), Walk 21 and the UN Environment Program. Other founding partners include Africa Network for Walking and Cycling, BYCS, Dutch Cycling Embassy, ITDP, Share the Road, SLOCAT, UCI, World Cycling Alliance, WRI, with around 100 further non-profits as confirmed PATH supporters.
PATH has published groundbreaking research and reports including its inaugural “Make way for walking and cycling” report that makes the case for active mobility and “National policies for walking and cycling in all 197 UNFCCC countries” that also includes an NDC Template for Walking and Cycling to provide guidance as countries update their NDCs for 2025.
The template highlights 20 actions that governments can take to realise PATH’s vision for people to have safe, accessible, comfortable, and enjoyable walking and cycling experiences to mitigate climate change, support public transport, reduce emissions, benefit public health, and create vibrant and inclusive societies. The overall target is to achieve 80% walking, cycling and public transport trips, to deliver 50% less transport emissions by 2030 as a quick, affordable, and reliable solution. The 20 actions include e.g.:
• Provide networks, infrastructure and services
• Target campaigns towards specific audiences and needs
• Integrate public transport with walking and cycling
• Secure finance
• Monitor and evaluate impact
There is a strong connection between PATH’s and city aims and actions which we are keen to highlight at the World Urban Forum. In this event, we will launch a collection of 20 impactful case studies, many at the city level, that illustrate best practice examples from around the world of the 20 actions included in the report. These will be part of an online library of PATH resources.