This paper shares two case studies from cities that have taken action in the transport sector to fight poverty and have realized the benefits of reduced emissions from traditional public transport options.

Today over 540 million people worldwide live in multidimensional poverty. These people not only lack financial resources, but also suffer from limited access to social institutions and face obstacles to earning a livelihood. Low carbon transport is critical to reduce poverty in cities and ensure a sustainable future for all. Car oriented urban development and other traditional forms of transport, deemed to connect the poor with more economic and social opportunities, have not been significantly successful.

Key messages

• Poor households benefit greatly from low carbon transport options.
• More affordable, efficient, and safe travel connects people to more employment and social
  opportunities.
• Low carbon transport in combination with pro-poor city development can improve the inclusion of poor and marginalized neighborhoods.
• As well as lifting people above the poverty line, these solutions boost local economies, with additional long term advantages from carbon emission savings for the local regions.
• Thus low carbon transport solutions pay multiple dividends resulting in poverty alleviation— they are affordable and climate friendly investment options for city governments that address both transport related poverty issues and climate change mitigation.

Download the paper here: LEDS in Practice: Fight poverty by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban transport

LEDS in Practice

This paper is one of a series on the co-benefits of low emission development strategies in the transport sector, from the World Resources Institute’s Ross Center for Sustainable Cities (EMBARQ) and GIZ. Download the others here:

• LEDS in Practice: Make roads safe
• LEDS in Practice: Save money and time
• LEDS in Practice: Create jobs
• LEDS in Practice: Breathe clean