Global Paradigm of Sustainable Urban Mobility Systems: Towards Just Transportation Transitions

Abstract

Developing and implementing actions aimed at achieving environmentally friendly and equitable low-carbon mobility systems are imperative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing pollution, and advancing target 11:2 of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development. However, in many low-income countries, public mobility systems largely rely on informal sectors, and yet they are the gross emitters of air pollution and carbon due to their diesel propulsion and reliance on aged, reconditioned automobiles. This susceptibility exposes the system to considerable challenges that are exacerbated by the impact of climate change. While there is a global trend towards implementing new low-carbon emission mobility initiatives like Bus Rapid Transit, their effectiveness varies, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Instances in cities such as Johannesburg and Dar-es-Salaam highlight specifically management challenges. In Uganda and Zambia, existing policies on climate-resilient mobility face poor implementation strategies.Through a systematic literature review of existing paradigms on sustainable urban mobility, this research generates key lessons from global experiences that can be used to facilitate the transition towards urban mobility with net-zero emissions. This study contends that reducing mobility emissions necessitates innovative approaches that extend beyond technical fixes and consider climate action as a transformative issue. This study contributes to the sustainable urban mobility discourse and existing paradigm of sustainable mobility systems at the global level to achieve Just Transportation Transitions.