As of today, we all have a role to play in supporting the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), a significant global initiative. The United Nations set these goals in 2015 to promote sustainability and protect the planet. Transportation is a key instrument in achieving the goals. It impacts a wide range of matters, such as health, pollution, energy, and economic growth.

The role played by these goals will have a fundamental meaning in achieving the implementation of all measures for sustainable transportation infrastructure with a CO2 emission reduction of 50% by 2050, as stated by the United Nations.

Looking at the statistics, it appears that the

“Railway energy efficiency has doubled since 1975. Electrification has expanded to cover one-third of the global network and powers almost 45% of all rail activity. Rail companies are choosing to invest directly in renewable energy, which now powers more than 20% of electric-powered trains”

- MOBILIZING for DEVELOPMENT Analysis and Policy Recommendations from the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, available  online, p. 35

It is clear that technology significantly impacts all areas of sustainable development and can play an essential role in achieving the goals. New technologies can support sustainable solutions throughout several global angles:

Socially, advanced technology can guarantee better safety, public transport, and increasing affordability. It can make transport more accessible for people with disabilities or the elderly.
Environmentally, technology offers new and enhanced opportunities for a cleaner, more climate-friendly transport system, and less pollution.
Economically, an increase in the efficiency of transport technology results in economic growth through cost-cutting and waste-cutting.
At this stage, it is critical to work together. Investors and decision-makers are expected to create a coworking environment where technological innovations have space to develop and integrate into society strategically. This potential outcome must be drawn over a long-term plan nourished by a futuristic vision and sensitive emphasis on the present moment, where the need for actions around environmental sustainability is stronger than ever before.

We all aim for a better world. We all need significant changes in front of the dramatic degradation affecting our planet. In front of the evidence, mankind has finally developed a much deeper awareness, which is why digital transformation aims to efficiently drive the transportation industry to a new fully sustainable era.

“The answer to these problems is not less transport - it is a sustainable transport. We need more systems that are environmentally friendly, affordable and accessible”  

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

External References:

Rusul Abduljabbar, Hussein Dia, Sohani Liyanage and Saeed Asadi Bagloee Department of Civil and Construction Engineering; Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia, 2019.
The Fourth Wave of Digitalization and Public Transport: Opportunities and Challenges Paul Davidsson, Banafsheh Hajinasab, Johan Holmgren, Åse Jevinger and Jan A. Persson Internet of Things and People Research Center, K2—The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Public Transport, Department of Computer Science, Malmö University, Malmö 20506, Sweden, 2016.
Mariah Venice Afable, Sustainable transport solutions - Mobilizing the world’s sustainability goals, Bold Business Magazine, January 2019.
Transportation Industry Matrix, United Nations and KPMG, 2016.
MOBILIZING for DEVELOPMENT Analysis and Policy Recommendations from the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, available online
Sustainable Transport Data Collection and Application: China Urban Transport Database, Tian Jiang, Zhongyi Wu, Yu Song, Xianglong Liu, Haode Liu, and Haozhi Zhang, China Urban Sustainable Transport Research Center, China Academy of