UN-Habitat today launches its online classroom “Taking Sustainable Urban Mobility to the Next Level,” a course that provides information on different aspects of the transition to sustainable mobility in cities. 

Course material is presented by experts in the field in seven videos on topics such as multimodal integration, policy and financing instruments, low-carbon mobility solutions, and data and smart mobility. 

Developed in collaboration with Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, the course features inputs by the World Resources Institute, KfW Development Bank, MyClimate, and Deutsche Bahn. 

Together, the courses provide a unique starting point for cities to devise future sustainable mobility systems and build the capacity of local decisionmakers. This is particularly important as the world looks to build back better, healthier, and greener following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The pandemic severely disrupted urban mobility systems but also presents a unique opportunity to devise truly inclusive sustainable urban transport systems, centred around integrated non-motorised and low-carbon public transport that is accessible to all. 

Climate change and associated topics such as sustainable urban development and mobility are among the main topics of UN-Habitat 2021 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day in October. 

In a world where transport is responsible for a quarter of energy-related CO₂ emissions, road-related accidents cause more than 1.35 million fatalities annually, and outdoor air pollution results in 3.2 million premature deaths each year worldwide, there is a pressing need for a shift to sustainable mobility.  

This is particularly crucial in rapidly growing cities, where economic growth drives demand for freight and private car ownership rates are soaring. By 2050, 68 per cent of the world population is expected to live in urban environments, with 90 per cent of this growth set in Asia and Africa. This urban population boom poses unprecedented challenges for transport, in particular for cities in developing countries. 

The online classroom “Taking Sustainable Urban Mobility to the Next Level” is self-paced and freely accessible to all upon registration. Local and national-level urban mobility stakeholders from around the globe are invited to join the platform.  

Following the courses, which will be continuously updated and enriched through inputs from new partners and experts, participants can take a quiz to test their knowledge. They can also register their interest in the Academy of Sustainable Urban Mobility (AoSUM). The AoSUM is an annual expert workshop for urban mobility decisionmakers who come together to exchange best practices and create a shift towards innovative urban mobility solutions for their cities.  

Such ideas are centred around efficient, evidence-based, inclusive, and safe public transport integrated with active mobility modes. Participants in the online classroom can apply for selection and participation in the AoSUM. 

For further information, please visit the classroom, or contact Stefanie Holzwarth of UN-Habitat’s Urban Mobility team on stefanie.holzwarth@un.org.