BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the world is facing the pressing challenge posed by climate change, a growing number of countries have speeded up their efforts and cooperated with others in improving transport systems and shifting to green energy to build a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Globally, transport is one of the single largest contributors to air pollution and carbon emissions, accounting for about 64 percent of total oil consumption and 27 percent of all energy use.

During recent years, countries in Europe and South America have taken a set of measures to increase investments, incentivize clean transport options, promote transport security and reduce carbon footprints, which are essential to achieve sustainable transport that is safe, accessible, green and resilient.

In order to meet the 2019 European Green Deal's target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, most vehicle manufacturers have made commitments for electric vehicle sales and sought for alternatives of diesel engine.

Multinational automotive manufacturer Stellantis said in July that it planned to invest around 35 billion U.S. dollars through 2025 on electrifying its vehicle lineup. German carmaker Volkswagen has unveiled a strategy to make its fully electric car sales account for at least 70 percent of its total vehicle sales in Europe by 2030, doubling its previous target of 35 percent.

In late September, American engine designer and manufacturer Cummins said it has accelerated its work on internal combustion engines fueled by low-carbon hydrogen.

To lower emissions from the aviation industry, also a main contributor to climate change, the French government said it would provide 15 billion euros (around 17.4 billion U.S. dollars) to support the country's aviation sector. The fund includes a 1.5-billion-euro plan to promote research on a future "carbon neutral plane."

When global road transport activities went down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide cities including the Peruvian capital of Lima, Italy's Milan and the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, have added new bicycle and walking facilities to push green transportation.

Bogota, capital city of Colombia, increased another 80 km of lanes after the outbreak of the pandemic to ease crowding on buses, and planned to build 280 km more in the next four years.

Ren Weimin, director of Transport Division at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said in an interview with Xinhua that ESCAP member countries are discussing a regional five-year transport action plan, and ready to carry out a series of activities to boost low-carbon and digital transportation in Asia and the Pacific.

Meanwhile, China, with its booming new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and the world's largest market for electric vehicles sales, has become a popular cooperative partner for many countries to upgrade and develop low-carbon transport systems.

Over the past few years, Chinese solar batteries and electric vehicles manufacturer BYD has been expanding its business in Brazil step by step. Its electric bus chassis and solar panel factories were set up in Campinas in 2017, and a battery factory was established in Manaus, Amazon state, in 2018.

The company looks to diversify its business by producing electric bus chassis in Brazil and exporting them to other Latin American countries, which has facilitated the region's effort in shifting towards clean energy.

In Mexico City, over 100 zero-emission trolleybuses from China's leading bus maker Yutong are serving capital commuters along several main thoroughfares, such as Eje Central and Central Axis.

Director of the city's Electric Transportation Service Guillermo Calderon said these Chinese-made buses have brought more accessible, comfortable and clean traveling experience to people in the country, and it is a win-win cooperation between the two countries' transport industries.

China itself is also walking the talk in its pursuit of green and low-carbon transport. According to Report on Sustainable Transport in China, which was released on the sidelines of the second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference from Thursday to Saturday, a total of 466,000 new-energy city buses, 132,000 taxis and 430,000 urban logistics and distribution vehicles were operating across the country as of the end of 2020.

As Chinese NEV manufacturers are accelerating their marches to the European market, Mike Hawes, chief executive of Britain's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, looks forward to strengthening relationship with Chinese auto industry.

"There is a significant opportunity for further collaboration between the two countries as the automotive industry shifts towards a zero-emissions future," Hawes said. Enditem

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