S. 1 Unveiling Pathways for Transport in Asia: Enabling Better Decisions through Better Data and Information - Workshop Session on the Asian Transport Outlook
Wednesday, 15 May | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
This workshop session will showcase the Asian Transport Outlook (ATO), a joint initiative of the ADB and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB). The ATO, which started in 2020 has developed into the most comprehensive knowledge base (data and policy information) on transport in the Asia and Pacific region. The session will present the rationale, outputs, and the wider vision of ATO which aims at providing organized and accessible data and policy information on transport sector structure, performance, and externalities, towards better informing policy making and investment planning by governments, development agencies and private sector towards the development of a more sustainable, low carbon transport sector in the region at different scales and settings.
Transportation is a key sector in the sustainable development of Asia, it enables the flow of people and goods, the delivery and access to services, essentially serving as the backbone of our societies. The transport sector's complexity is markedly amplified by the diversity in Asia encompassing a wide array of geographical, economic, environmental, political, and cultural contexts. This diversity introduces multifaceted challenges in transport infrastructure investment and development, policy formulation, and service delivery, each needing to be tailored to distinct local circumstances, and overarching needs. Development issues further compound this complexity, as nations grapple with wider issues related to socio-economic issues, technological disruptions, as well as funding and capacity constraints, amidst striving to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability.
The intersection of these elements necessitates a nuanced approach to the development of the transport sector that should be data-driven, and knowledge based. The ATO stands out as a crucial initiative in this regard, offering a coherent and comprehensive knowledge framework that can help navigate the complexity of Asia's transport sector. By synthesizing vast amounts of data and policy information across diverse domains and geographies, the ATO provides invaluable insights that enable better informed decision-making at various levels, from strategy development to program and intervention conceptualization.
The ATO was initiated by the ADB in 2020 and since 2023 is also being supported by the AIIB to strengthen the knowledge base on transport in the Asia-Pacific region. The ATO was developed primarily in support of the planning and delivery of ADB Transport Sector Assistance. The ATO, however, also supports Asian governments in transport policy development and delivery. The ATO is also an instrument to track the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Paris Agreement and other relevant international agreements on sustainable development in the transport sector.
S. 2 DigitalTwin (Transport Project Assessment and Design Platform)
Thursday, 16 May | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
As part of ADB’s strengthened role as Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, digital solutions are being developed to help optimize our new ways of working. Digitalization offers an innovative approach to meet the challenge of designing sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects. During this session, we will introduce an AI-enabled digital platform for early design stage infrastructure projects enabling predictive insights and forecasting the impact of projects on GHG emissions, natural resource utilization, and resilience to climate and disaster risks. It allows for proactive measures to be implemented before construction begins by simulating the project within the potential material sourcing scenarios and the immediate environment.
We will present three case studies on how the digital platform was used for due diligence work to enhance the project design and ensure that climate and disaster risk considerations were integrated in the assessment for a more comprehensive and risk sensitive approach. One of the case studies will illustrate how it was applied to a full network assessment, and how adaptation and mitigation measures were identified based on the assessment results. Together, we will navigate the platform to experience the pivotal role of digitalization in enabling the transition to greener transport.
S. 3 ESCAP Regional Cooperation Mechanism for Low Carbon Transport
Friday, 17 May | 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
(by invitation, to confirm your participation please reach out to "Wei-Shiuen Ng" <we-shiuen.ng@un.org
This capacity building and technical discussion regional meeting provides an opportunity for ESCAP member States to share their low carbon transport financing challenges and needs and for countries and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge. It also serves as a platform for multi-stakeholder engagement and to identify climate financing mechanisms best suited for low carbon transport in Asia and the Pacific through possible regional coordinated action. This meeting is part of the second phase of the ESCAP Regional Cooperation Mechanism for Low Carbon Transport in Asia and the Pacific, which supports the development and implementation of transport and climate change mitigation plans of ESCAP member States.
S. 4 E-mobility GCF Event
Friday, 17 May | 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
The E-Mobility GCF Program (the Program), which will be administered by ADB, is a regional program that aims to scale-up E-Mobility by addressing the nexus between climate change, transport, energy, poverty, and gender inequality. The beneficiary countries are Armenia, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, and Uzbekistan. Mass deployment of electric buses at a regional scale will provide a critical momentum to allow for economies of scale and to create a visible impact to demonstrate low-carbon pathways for future mobility. Adaptation measures to strengthen resilience of the urban transport system will be undertaken in priority countries with higher levels of readiness, to demonstrate innovative solutions that can be replicated in other countries. This session will discuss the components and requirements of the Program to ensure its successful implementation.
S. 5 ADB-Japan Sustainable Transport Technology for the Future
Friday, 17 May | 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Action by transport sector in Asia and the Pacific region is vital for tackling the challenge of climate change.
The transport infrastructure acts as a lifeline supporting societal activities by moving people and cargo safely and conveniently. Since it covers a wide range of modes (land transport such as cars, railways, etc., maritime, aviation, logistics, etc.), there is a need for climate change measures tailored to each mode rather than a unified approach. Additionally, while energy used for transportation and logistics is transitioning to new energy sources, the current transitional phase presents uncertainties regarding the long-term direction of this energy transition.
Japan has a proven track record of economic development through international trade and the establishment of various transportation networks for people's mobility. Furthermore, Japan has experience in addressing CO2 emission reduction with the latest technology, including the utilization of new energy sources. This session, therefore, will focus on “Supply Chain Decarbonization/Carbon Reduction(2:00pm-3:30pm)” and “Green Mobility(4:00pm-5:30pm)”, aiming to share the knowledge and experience not only from the public sector but also from the private sector in Japan with DMCs and ADB and to explore the pathways to carbon-neutral transport for the future.
The speakers for the “Supply Chain Decarbonization/Carbon Reduction” session (2:00pm-3:30pm) will share their knowledge and experiences, such as maritime decarbonization view by an international shipping company, insulation box without power for cold chain by a material maker, drone airplane for delivery by a drone maker, and so on.
The speakers for the “Green Mobility” session (4:00pm-5:30pm) will share their knowledge and experiences, such as planning for integration of location and big data by an IT solution company, carbon emission estimation system by an IT solution company, optimizing electric bus operation and energy consumption by a bus operation company, a self-driving ropeway ideal for severe traffic congestion by a maker, impact of fast-charge battery on a bus by a battery maker, information helpful for the operation and maintenance management of urban railways by the Japanese governmental organization, and so on.
S. 6 Accessibility for People with Disability
Friday, 17 May | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Asia and the Pacific is home to 60% of the 1.3 billion people with disabilities globally. The majority of them live in poverty, dependent on public transport to access basic services and livelihood opportunities. However, the lack of an accessible public transport system results in their not having access to important basic community services such as educational institutes, health setup, and workplaces, thus getting left behind. The inability of public transport to enable easy and independent travel journeys for people with disabilities also increases disability-related extra costs they have to incur to reach basic community services, such as having to hire taxis or travel with additional people to assist during the journey.
Disability-inclusive public transport remains a challenge for most countries to provide even though there are existing legal frameworks for inclusive public transport with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and National laws harmonised with the convention. There is also an expressed will by the States and other stakeholders to develop inclusive public transport systems through SGD 11 and the NUA that specifically refer to public transport for persons with disabilities.
Often having a reserved seat or concessional fares is considered adequate action for making transport more inclusive. However, this isn’t enough and a range of aspects must be addressed when making transport disability inclusive. There is a need for collaborative work to create seamless transport systems that are inclusive for all including persons with disabilities.
The workshop provides an opportunity for the participants to dwell on understanding the diverse requirements of persons with disabilities realising that it benefits everybody. Participants will engage in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange on disability-inclusive public transport.