World Sustainable Transport Day: Tracing the Journey from Origin to Destination
Sustainable Transport Day is celebrated annually on November 26. The United nations General Assembly designated this day in 2023 to emphasize the role of environmentally amiable transportation in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals. The transportation sector plays a crucial role in shaping national and global economies, affecting the movement of goods and passengers as well as production and consumption patterns.Emerging technologies enhance safety, accessibility, and efficiency within transport networks, with the primary goal of reducing carbon emissions and minimizing environmental impact.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has stated that the transport sector accounts for about one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 91 percent of energy consumption in land, sea, and air transport still relying on fossil fuels. He stressed that despite challenges, humanity can reduce dependence on climate-harming fuels by developing efficient low-carbon transport systems.
According to UN reports, more than half of the world’s population now lives in cities. Urban areas generate over 60 percent of global GDP but are responsible for more than 70 percent of carbon emissions worldwide. This challenge is addressed under Sustainable Development Goal 11-“Sustainable Cities and Communities”-prompting intensified international cooperation among governments.
In 2025, coinciding with Brazil’s leadership over BRICS, experts from member countries convened specialized working group meetings to discuss sustainable transport infrastructure development and urban mobility improvements. Brazil has especially promoted Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by establishing synthetic oil production units for these fuels derived from recycled biomass sources such as cooking oil waste and agricultural residues. Experts estimate SAF reduces carbon emissions by up to 80 percent compared to fossil fuels.
Regarding urban public transit, BRICS countries have prioritized modernizing bus fleets to lower pollution levels while expanding metro lines and rapid tram networks.International financing-including support from BRICS’ New Development Bank-for implementing these projects has also been highlighted.
The final statement at the seventeenth summit reiterated members’ shared commitment toward resilient and sustainable transport infrastructure.The Rio de Janeiro Declaration underscores their dedication to low-carbon urban mobility as essential for healthier livable environments while promoting clean vehicle usage.
Experts beleive achieving sustainable development goals extends beyond governments; citizens also play a vital role by occasionally using public transit instead of private cars, choosing cleaner vehicles like electric cars, replacing motorcycles or bicycles during warm seasons when feasible-and walking short distances whenever possible.
Cycling or motorbiking can reduce both traffic congestion and pollutant emissions in large cities with favorable climates while shortening travel times. In many smaller cities worldwide, public charging stations for electric motorcycles,scooters,and light motorbikes are increasingly available.
The global motorcycle market has seen significant growth recently; analysts project worldwide sales will reach a record-breaking 61.8 million units by 2024. Major manufacturers include Japan,Germany ,india ,China ,and the United States .
Meanwhile,motorcycle enthusiasts continue treasuring historical models.Museums housing rare collections have emerged globally.One unique collection resides in Chelyabinsk,Russia ,where115 operational motorcyclesand two-wheeled vehicles-some being sole surviving examples-are preserved.
This includes “Malyutka,”builtin1961by Vladimir sharabin,a self-taught inventor from Chuvashia using basic parts.It gained national recognition due to its innovative design.It was exhibited at Moscow’s National Achievements Exhibition,and reportedly once ridden by nikita Khrushchev,the Frist Secretaryof the Soviet Communist Party .
In1963,Leningrad engineers designed an intriguing folding model weighing22 .3 kilograms capableof35 kilometers per hour.The vehicle targeted geologists needing portable equipment easily carried within small bags .
This museum features extensive Soviet-era motorcycles alongwith small motorized vehiclesfrom various countries.For example,”Raja,”an Indian modelfromthe1970s,reengineeredbasedon Japanese designsand capableofsafely transportingtokenishersandanadditional load,is partofthe collection.
Nikolay Audyov,foundedthe museum.Afterstartingto collect motorcycles during school days,hestogetherwith fellow enthusiasts restoreraremotorcycles,scooters,and mopedsusing archival photos,maps,and documents.They refurbish worn components,replacing themasampleneededandsometimes fabricatepartsvia three-dimensional printing technology.
A challenging restoration project involved revivinga two-speedpostal delivery motorcycle outfittedwithreversegear.Designedto carryup tote60 kilograms,itonlyexistsinfour prototypeswithjustone remainingand neverentered massproduction .
The museumalsodisplays sportmotorcyclesdesignedfor football-on-motorcycles,to which four riders participatealongsideafield goalkeeper.Thegameusesalarge ball controlledvia protective front-wheel attachments .
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.Despite widespread innovationsin themotorcycle industry,new technologies do not diminishthe inspirational valueofanearlierconceptsto new inventors.EnthusiastsintheChelyabinsk area intend expandingtheir collectionand envisionbuilding aneco-friendly two-seater vehicle soon.
