This study seeks to answer the following questions: Will the Asian Transport system show inertia in the future in the realization of climate ambitions? What might be learned by combining insights from multiple transport emission modelling studies and reviewing current policy frameworks? To what extent is the policy landscape on transport and climate change in Asia aligned with the directions set by recent Business as Usual transport emission modelling studies?
To answer these questions this paper synthesizes the most recent data on the growth of the transport sector in Asia and its contribution to climate change.
This paper examines whether decarbonization of transport in Asia is an illusion, a question fueled by repeated references to the difficulties of decarbonizing transport, especially in this region. Yet, the paper observed that, even in a still relatively weak policy environment, significant changes in the emissions trajectory in the sector are now evident, with an expected reduction in business-as-usual transport emissions of 37%. Considering various positive policy examples of low carbon transport policies, the paper concludes that a new and less pessimistic perspective of transport and climate change in Asia is now worth looking at.
The research in this paper is grounded on the transport data and policy information collected in the Asian Transport Outlook initiative, which supports the planning and delivery of transport sector assistance by Asian Development Bank, as well as transport initiatives by Asian governments, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement, and other transport relevant international agreements.