By Leisa Burrell
The need to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of the Paris Agreement has focused attention on the highly polluting transport sector, which accounts for a quarter of global GHG emissions. According to the World Resources Institute, to meet the Paris Agreement targets, emissions from the transport sector must peak around 2020 and fall 9 per cent by 2030.
If powered by renewable energy, electric vehicles can play an important role in helping to reach this target, while helping to catalyze economic and health benefits along the way. Working to support the acceleration of e-mobility around the world, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is working in seven countries to help accelerate the shift to more sustainable transport systems in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Countries face a series of systemic challenges to adopting electric mobility,” says Director of UNIDO’s Department of Energy, Tareq Emtairah. “Policy coordination among ministries and key stakeholders, lack of infrastructure and standards, high upfront costs, a general lack of awareness and understanding of the technologies are just some of the challenges faced by governments trying to implement e-mobility infrastructure. Hence, it is critical that e-mobility is considered holistically, taking into account the electricity mix charging e-mobility as well as the sustainable use and disposal of electric vehicle batteries.”
