The composition of carbon emissions from road transport in Asia reveals distinct patterns across different income levels. Light-duty vehicles, such as passenger cars, SUV’s and taxis, consistently account for a significant share of road transport CO2 emissions. However, this share varies considerably, representing 55% of emissions in low- and lower-middle-income economies, 45% in upper-middle-income economies, and 41% in high-income economies. Two-wheelers' contribution, including motorcycles and scooters, also displays stark differences. While they account for a negligible 1% of emissions in high-income economies, their share rises to 4% in upper-middle-income economies and a substantial 14% in low- and lower-middle-income economies. These disparities highlight the diverse nature of road transport systems and the varying reliance on different vehicle types across income levels in Asia, which has important implications for targeted emissions reduction strategies.

Road transport CO2 emissions share by submode

Source: (International Council on Clean Transportation, 2023)

Find out more about the associated report here:
Transport Decarbonisation in Asia: A Glass Half-Full or Half-Empty? A Primer for COP-29
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