Statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport at the plenary meeting of the Second Committee of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly

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5 October 2026

Madam Chair,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport.

Nine months into the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026–2035 our collective priority must be clear: to translate commitments into implementation, measurable progress and concrete impact.

Sustainable transport is a critical enabler of sustainable development. As recognized across the 2030 Agenda, the Sevilla Commitment, the Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs, the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, connectivity is inseparable from inclusive growth, resilience and access to opportunity.

First, we encourage Member States and all relevant stakeholders to accelerate implementation of the Decade at national, regional and global levels, taking into account different national circumstances and priorities.

Second, we underline the importance of stronger coordination across the United Nations system. We look forward to consideration during this session of the Secretary-General’s assessment, requested by resolution 80/132, on the potential need for a coordination mechanism on transport within the UN.

Third, implementation must be backed by predictable resources. International financial institutions, development banks, donors and the private sector have an important role in expanding financing, technical assistance, technology cooperation and capacity-building, particularly for developing countries.

We also attach importance to effective monitoring. Resolution 80/132 provides for a joint Atlas of Transport Sustainability to showcase indicators, good practices and voluntary commitments. The recently launched UN System Data Commons presents an example of how Member States provided data can be brought together through a common, accessible and modern platform. We believe this initiative could offer useful illustration for the development of the Atlas.

We also recall resolution 77/286, which declared 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day.

As we advance towards the 2030 midterm review of the Transport Decade, our objective should remain action-oriented: turning policies into projects, partnerships into results, and sustainable connectivity into opportunities for all.

Thank you.