The United Nations launched its first-ever Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035) and the associated Implementation Plan on Wednesday.

A special event, bringing together transport leaders from governments, the UN system, local authorities, the private sector, civil society and youth organizations from around the world, was held at the UN headquarters in New York.

"This consultative and inclusive process has opened new avenues for cooperation, and we have been privileged to lead it," said UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, who leads the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

The Implementation Plan, prepared by UN DESA and outlining six focus areas and means of implementation, is the result of a participatory consultation process and provides a roadmap to align policies, finance, technology and data with sustainable transport to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, according to a press release issued by the United Nations.

Sustainable transport is about cleaner mobility and safer systems, extending markets, shaping access to jobs, schools and health care, and enabling the movements of goods and services, the release said.

It is fundamental to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, with synergies to poverty eradication, good health, climate action, gender equality, education and beyond. With transport demand set to more than double by 2050, mobility-related choices made in the coming decade can lock in sustainable development pathways, it said.

The launch event also unveiled 83 concrete commitments submitted from around the world, including a major push toward clean and fairer mobility, active mobility, zero-emission road transport, transport-related capacity building, transport data and reporting, among others, according to the release.

In 2023, the UN General Assembly designated 2026 as the start of the first UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.