BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference opened on Thursday in Beijing.
Transport enables the mobility of people and goods, enhancing economic growth and livelihoods while improving access to quality services, such as health, education and finance.
It strengthens connectivity at all levels, helping integrate economies, improving social equity, enhancing rural-urban linkages and building resilience.
At the same time, there is also recognition of negative environmental, social and health impacts.
According to the UN statistics, nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions are from transport.
And these emissions are projected to grow substantially in the years to come, further exacerbating climate change.
Without proactive measures, existing inequalities such as those due to disabilities, gender or remoteness can become even more entrenched.
According to a UN report, sustainable transport seeks to alleviate these negative impacts while "advancing economic and social development to benefit today's and future generations - in a manner that is safe, affordable, accessible, efficient, and resilient."
This year's conference underscores the importance of sustainable transport for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The three-day event will bring together key stakeholders from Governments, UN system and other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to discuss the integrated and cross-cutting nature of sustainable transport and its multiple roles in supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
