Asian nations are leading the global charge toward sustainable transportation, according to an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
DOTr Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said Asian countries made considerable progress towards low-carbon pathways and economic resilience.
He said these achievements include curbing fossil fuel subsidies, leading the global road construction and rail expansion since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and becoming the epicenter of global electric vehicle revolution.
“These [achievements] position Asia at the forefront of the global shift towards sustainable transport,” Batan said during the closing of the High-Level 16th Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum.
Despite this progress, the transport sector in Asia is still confronted with roadblocks to achieving the sustainable development goals, said Batan.
Batan noted, however, that increased awareness about climate crisis may have potentially led to the dramatic increase by 93 percent in 2024 of the Asia Pacific region’s climate ambition.
“May we turn these accomplishments as our driving force to do even better and make continual efforts towards realizing our collective visions for sustainable transport and climate ambition,” Batan said.
“It is our responsibility to initiate change, and not just respond and react to change,” he said
