Moving Forward Series #4: Job Creation Through Green Transport

The LEDS GP Transport Working Group is publishing a series of five papers co-authored by young people from around the world on sustainable recovery for the transport sector: Leveraging insights from COVID-19 response measures to drive more sustainable, inclusive and resilient transport systems. Cyprine Odada co-authored the fourth paper in the series which highlights how cities can increase employment opportunities by investing in sustainable transport and mobility systems.

Job Creation Through Green Transport

Efficient transport systems have a positive multiplier effect and lead to better accessibility to markets, employment, additional investments, and higher quality of life. The downside of transport is its adverse environmental and health impacts, including air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It can also provoke road accidents, excessive levels of noise, heavy congestion, social exclusion, reduced opportunities for physical activity, etc. In light of these negative impacts, several cities are pushing for Green Transport Policies that encourage the use of electric vehicles, public transport, walking and cycling. As the paper “Job Creation Through Green Transport” argues, a chain of employment opportunities can be generated from investing in green transport and as a result of the continued successive re-spending on the local economy. Case studies include examples from public transport and the cycling industry in India and the United States.

Cyprine Odada, the co-author of this paper, is an urban planner with a master’s degree in from the University of Nairobi. She is part of the Young Leaders in Sustainable Transport programme 2020.

Paper Series “Moving Forward: Sustainable Recovery in Transport”

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a massive impact on mobility worldwide. With public transport authorities facing financial pressures and ridership dropping worldwide, equitable access through sustainable mobility is at risk. Guaranteeing access to economic, educational and societal opportunities through sustainable mobility options is at the center of equitable recovery. Protecting public transport, bike-sharing and other efficient and clean transport services will require concerted efforts from both the national and subnational levels. Economic stimulus packages by national governments and multilateral organizations offer an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the transformation to sustainable, low carbon transport. Cities are deploying immediate measures, such as tactical urbanism, to facilitate social cohesion while enabling physical distancing and supporting the shift towards sustainable modes of transport. Such measures can drive permanent transformations to low carbon mobility in developing countries by harnessing innovative best practices into a “new normal” of mobility planning and investment.

This paper series aims to provide an understanding of economic, social and policy opportunities that can equip policy makers to create a transformative post-COVID-19 sustainable transport agenda and complement measures to make a case for sustainable transport and mobility in economic recovery packages. Sharing knowledge on positive measures and their potential to drive long-term change can support stakeholders in capitalizing on this critical moment. The series will cover five topics related to sustainable, low-carbon transport with the underlying theme of leading towards a more equitable and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. The papers focus on activities in Asia but are covering examples from around the world, making use of the most valuable insights and outcomes.

In the first paper of the series, written by Érika Martins Silva Ramos provides an understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted sustainable transport and explains how governments are supporting recovery in the sub-sectors that were most affected (e.g., public transport). The second paper, written by Angel Cortez, discusses the opportunity for a Green Recovery of the transport sector in the context of its impact on emissions worldwide. The third paper of the series, co-authored by Agnivesh Pani, focuses on sustainable freight deliveries post-COVID-19.

As recovery continues, research, analysis, and capacity-building are vital to harness socio-economic and policy opportunities to sustainably transform transport systems and to ensure that responses to the crisis help us “build back better.”

This fourth paper was co-authored by Cyprine Odada, and Chris Dekki, Angela Enriquez and Nikola Medimorec from the LEDS Transport Working Group.

Upcoming paper: Moving Forward #5

  • #5 Opening streets for people (Co-Author: Seble Samuel)