This primer provides an overview of transport and climate change in Asia and the Pacific was developed by the Asian Transport Outlook team as an input into the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku in November 2024.

The recently released GHG emissions estimates show that transport emissions in Asia and the Pacific have surged to an unprecedented 2.8 gigatons (Gt) of CO₂—a 6.6% rise from 2022. This increase outpaces all other sectors within the region, with Asia's transport emissions now rivaling those of Europe and North America combined. The situation demands swift and decisive action at COP29 to decarbonize the transport sector 40% of which is contributed by Asian countries. Notably, since the Paris Agreement, the region's transport emissions have grown at twice the global average, contributing a staggering 83% of the worldwide rise in transport emissions. These trends highlight the urgent need for income-level-specific interventions, as low- and middle-income economies are experiencing more rapid emissions growth compared to high-income countries.

The road transport sector is a dominant contributor, accounting for 89% of total emissions, with variations in the emissions profile between light-duty vehicles and two-wheelers across income levels. Railways, however, offer a positive contrast, with emissions decreasing despite infrastructure expansions. Yet overall, Asia's progress on transport decarbonization remains slow, and projections indicate a continued rise in emissions driven by freight and passenger demand. To reverse this trend, the region needs comprehensive monitoring systems and key performance indicators to guide policy action and ensure that emissions are decoupled from economic growth. Without urgent measures, the path to sustainable transport remains elusive.

The pdf version is attached below. Please check out the interactive graphs for the sections as found in the insights section of the website:

Tale of the Tape: Transport Emissions in Asia

1. Alarming Rise in Asia-Pacific Transport Emissions
2. Varying Emissions Landscape
3. Emissions Growth: A Tale of Two Asias
4. Post-Paris Agreement: Transport Emerges as Key Emissions Driver in Asia
5. Asia's Transport Emissions: Growth and Decoupling Trends Since the Paris Agreement
6. Road Transport Dominates Emissions
7. Railways: A Glimmer of Hope
8. Road Transport Emissions: Diverse Patterns by Vehicle Type
9. Asia's transport decarbonization progress is lagging
10. Transport Decarbonisation in Asia is left Behind

Emerging Trends Shaping Transport Sector Decarbonisation and Adaptation in Asia

1. Trends in Transport Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Asia
2. Transport Infrastructure Gap in Asia-Pacific
3. The Widening Gap: Vehicle Numbers vs. Road Capacity in Asia
4. Asia: The Epicentre of the Electric Vehicle Revolution
5. Bus Crisis
6. Stagnant Bicycle Trade
7. Asia's Disproportionate Climate Burden
8. Slow Renewable Uptake in Asia-Pacific Transport
9. Asia's Internet Boom: Reshaping Transport
10. Asia's Climate Turnaround: Can Transport Catch Up?

Annex

1. Transport CO2 Intensity of the Economy (with country selector)

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