Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
A sustainable future and effective climate action requires sustainable transport systems.
However, in today’s complex world, achieving sustainable transport is easier said than done.
More than 95 per cent of the energy powering our transportation still comes from petroleum products, contributing to a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are set to rise, worsening climate change.
And there are other pollutants from the transport sector that directly impact the health of populations, especially in cities.
Amidst all these issues, cycling emerges as proof that we do not always need complicated and expensive solutions to complex challenges.
Cycling cuts emissions, cleans urban air, reduces noise, eases traffic, and boosts health. Regular cycling benefits everyone, from young to old to persons with disabilities and everyone in between. It's a fun and efficient way to commute, explore, and stay active.
Despite these obvious benefits, we continue to prioritize the use of cars. We design our cities based on drivers’ needs, in many cases putting pedestrians and cyclists in grave danger.
Fifty-three percent of all road traffic fatalities involve the most vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
We need safe and accessible road infrastructure that supports multimodal mobility, including public transport, walking, and cycling.
And our road culture needs to change. We must raise awareness and train drivers to understand that the most vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists – have as much of a right to be safely using our roads as they do.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The momentum around sustainable transport is building.
Member States have declared 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day and have set the first UN Decade of Sustainable Transport to start in 2026. They’ve also called for the Third UN Conference on Sustainable Transport to be held in the near future.
My Department, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, is developing the implementation plan of the Decade of Sustainable Transport, in cooperation with the Regional Commissions, UN system and relevant stakeholders.
All transport sectors must join our efforts in shifting to multimodal transport. And increased cycling must be part and parcel of this effort.
I join you in wishing everyone here in New York City and around the world a safe, smooth, and enjoyable World Cycling Day.
Thank you!