Rail at COP31: Advancing Climate Action Through Sustainable Transport

Rail at COP31: Advancing Climate Action Through Sustainable Transport About UIC’s COP31 priorities UIC will once again, take part in the UNFCCC conference of the Parties, COP31. UIC will highlight how rail can contribute to climate action. UIC’s engagement will focus on two connected priorities: Advancing high-integrity carbon-credit methodologies that could help mobilise finance for sustainable transport Making rail and public transport part of national adaptation planning The Delegation UIC’s representatives at COP31 will be Lucie Anderton and François Davenne. And from UIC members: – TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş: Mr. Mustafa YILMAZ, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development Department and Mr. Cevat AYDIN, Deputy Head of Strategy and Corporate Development Department – Indian Railways: Shri Binay Kumar Jha, Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (EnHM), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways Priority Message 1 - Carbon credits and the MoveCredits Coalition Existing carbon-credit methodologies have not yet delivered carbon-market access at the scale needed for rail and public transport. 19 projects have used the CDM methodologies over the past 30 years, and only eight registered emission reductions, with limited financial returns. This matters particularly for developing countries: outdated or ineffective methodologies may prevent rail and public-transport projects from generating credible, sufficiently valuable credits to help attract investment. MoveCredits aims to review and update the methodologies, test them through pilots, and support fairer access to high-integrity carbon finance—while safeguarding environmental integrity. The MoveCredits Coalition, founded by UIC, UITP and Alstom, aims to review and update carbon-credit methodologies for rail and public transport, test them through pilots, and support their development under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. Developing the findings of UIC White Paper, estimates of up to 1.8 Gt of CO₂ avoided and USD 27–72 billion in potential carbon revenues from rail expansion in low- and middle-income countries by 2050. UIC’s review of 44 publicly available NAPs found that transport appears in 39, but rail is explicitly included in only 23. UIC will promote practical ways to include rail and public transport in NAPs, making then Specific, measurable and financed. Read the full report UIC and UITP are calling for rail and public transport to be recognised as critical infrastructure and essential services, with clear adaptation measures, investment needs and monitoring. UIC and UITP recommend applying the Avoid–Shift–Improve–Adapt framework to national adaptation planning. Read the UIC and UITP join call for action here. Rail and the COP Agenda UIC contributes railway expertise to three collaborative Plans to Accelerate Solutions (PAS): shifting freight to more efficient modes, scaling public transport and sustainable travel in cities, and advancing resilient and adaptive transport infrastructure. These plans bring together organisations to address shared barriers and set out actions and milestones that can be reported on at future COPs. UIC’s role is to help turn broad ambitions into guidance and practical actions for the rail sector. November 10th is the COP Presidency’s Thematic day for Transport. Read more about the programme here UIC at COP31: events and engagements Publications - Advancing Rail Resilience in National Adaptation Planning and Finance — - Rail and Public Transport at the Heart of National Climate Adaptation Plans —UIC UITP Joint statement RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT THE HEART OF NATIONAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLANS.pdf Previous editions - UIC at COP: