The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia is a joint initiative to decarbonise the transport sector in Asia.
Using a holistic approach, the initiative provides resources and assistance in both developing and implementing climate protection measures with partner countries China, India, and Vietnam. The programme shares relevant knowledge and information existing platforms and broadly from across Asia.
This includes, for example, developing a coherent strategy for policy approaches that are renewables-based, efficient, and accessible. As integration is essential in shifting to renewables and achieving energy security, the consortium coordinates its efforts between various sector ministries, civil society, and the private sector.
By linking with regional stakeholders and regional countries, the NDC Transport Initiative for Asia also helps promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonising transport. At the global level, the programme will contribute information and experiences to the UNFCCC process. China, India and Vietnam are also supported in defining sectoral contributions under their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement and in raising the ambitions of their long-term strategies and the 2025 NDCs.
Transport and renewables in Asia: a challenge for all
Globally, transport accounts for nearly one-third of total final energy demand. And energy demand in the transport sector is increasing faster than in any other sector. At the same time, this particular sector has the lowest share of renewable energy, with renewables contributing only about 3%. Because of its high reliance on fossil fuels, the transport sector accounts for about one-quarter of the global energy-related CO₂ emissions.
The Asia region is no exception. The Chinese transport sector alone resulted in 781 Mt CO2e emissions in 2014. Together with India (231 Mt CO2e) and Vietnam (32 Mt CO2e), the three countries emitted about 1 Gt CO2e in 2014, according to IEA. Rapid economic growth combined with an ongoing urbanisation and increasing motorisation are leading increased vehicular traffic in the three countries.
“While renewables in Asia are on the rise, fossil fuels (especially coal and natural gas) are rising even faster to meet this demand”, states our Community Manager, Vibhushree Hamirwasia in this article. Home to 50% of the world population, the level of Asia´s efforts to shift to renewables has a global impact. It is, therefore, essential that Asian countries will lead the decarbonisation to a more inclusive, just and sustainable energy system in order to meet the NDC goals.
What´s the role of REN21 in this initiative?
REN21 is responsible for providing the link between the transport and energy sectors; providing the latest data and analysis at the regional and global level and supporting data collection activities in India. It will work with partners to strengthen activities related to renewables-based decarbonisation and support the integration of transport and energy infrastructure planning in general.
REN21 has been involved since the initiative’s start in late 2018 and is the renewable energy voice of the consortium. As REN21´s Executive Director, Rana Adib, said at the launch of the Renewables 2020 Global Status Report; “We need a total fossil fuel lockdown for a climate revolution” and the transport sector is miles from achieving this. Shifting to renewables is not only necessary but urgent, specifically in a sector that is 97% based on fossil fuels.
The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Other implementing organisations are GIZ, World Resources Institute (WRI), International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), International Transport Forum (ITF), Agora Verkehrswende (AGORA), and Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) Foundation.
