Government officials and international experts from the Asia-Pacific region have called for collective action and further investments from governments to expand low-carbon transport, to further strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change.

During the eighth session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on Transport held from Nov 5 to 7 in Bangkok, policymakers and leading transport sector experts explored ways to advance collaborative efforts in sustainable transport across the region.

The commission reviewed the implementation of the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific (2022-26) and found that all progress indicators set to track its implementation have either been achieved or are on track.

However, many countries have experienced slow progress in the development of green transport in recent years, and most initiatives aimed at enhancing transport digitization are carried out at the national level in silos.

"The transport sector is one of the most challenging sectors to be set on a low-carbon pathway. Without a harmonized policy direction at a regional level, this approach has created fragmented and geographically limited transport services among member states," said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, or ESCAP.

She noted that the right policies must be developed and adopted at regional, national and local levels to support the electrification of public and shared vehicle fleets — one of the most cost-effective electrification strategies — while also increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity generation.

So far, ESCAP has implemented a technical cooperation project in Laos, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan, focusing on financing the transition to electric public bus fleets to launch pilot electric bus projects in selected cities later.

Souphany Heuangkeo, deputy director of the road passenger transport division under Laos' Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said Laos' public transport has seen a significant improvement with the construction of Laos-China and Laos-Thailand railways. It has also benefited from Chinese electric vehicle technologies with 55 electronic buses imported from China plying some of Lao's roads.

Chutinthorn Mankhon Rak from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning in the Thai Ministry of Transport called for partnerships with countries with EV technology for best practices. "We also hope ESCAP can assist (with) training and give professional guidance," she said.

At a side event on e-mobility in public transport on Wednesday, Li Guanyu, deputy director of the International Cooperation Department in China's Ministry of Transport, shared the country's experiences in promoting e-mobility.

"We will further contribute to the global efforts on tackling climate change and always be happy to join hands with Asia-Pacific countries to promote sustainable development as well as a better future," she said.