Webinar series “Urban Mobility after Covid-19: Long-term strategies for the sustainable mobility transition in European cities” Session 1

Meeting the European Union’s 2050 climate-neutrality target will require a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. With transport being one of the few sectors in which emissions are today higher than in 1990, and where emissions continue to rise despite mitigation efforts, this is a colossal challenge. Cities, which account for 40% of total road transport in the EU, will have a vital role to play in achieving the ambitious goal. They are not only major emitters, but local governments and urban stakeholders are also driving the transition to sustainable mobility through experimentation, innovation and multistakeholder partnerships. 

The Covid-19 crisis and the need for creating safe and socially-distanced transport have accelerated the mobility transition in many European cities. Tactical measures such as the introduction of new cycling lanes, pedestrian areas and low traffic zones were rolled out in record time. However, often these have been stand-alone initiatives that are not part of a long-term strategy for the transition to sustainable mobility. 

Departing from the capacity for urban transformation that we have witnessed in recent months, this three-session webinar explores how cities across Europe can develop more robust, long-term mobility plans, enabling them to contribute to the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets. The objective is to examine both opportunities for accelerating change – from multi-stakeholder partnerships to social innovation – as well as barriers to long-term planning and transformation – from public acceptance to political, legal and technical limitations. The first session provides a general debate on long-term urban mobility planning for a faster and more just green transition in cities. Building on this analysis, the two subsequent sessions zoom in on specific aspects of the urban mobility transition. Session two explores how urban mobility access regulations and low-traffic neighbourhoods are key to creating less polluted and more liveable cities in the long term. Session three turns towards the socioeconomic dimension of the mobility transition, including changes in ownership and employment systems, and the role of multistakeholder partnerships and social innovation. 

Each session brings together local policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Following the keynote interventions, experts will provide first reactions and subsequently there will be an open discussion with all participants. There will be English-Catalan translation. 

Please register below for the three sessions. You are welcome to register for more than one session.

12 April, 09:00 - 10:30 CET  Session 1: Long-term policy planning for a faster and more just urban mobility transition 

13 April, 09:10 - 10:30 CET  Session 2: Towards less polluted and more liveable cities: Urban access regulations & low-traffic neighbourhoods  

14 April, 09:10 - 10:30 CET  Session 3: Enabling multi-stakeholder cooperation and social innovation in urban mobility: green, inclusive and new solutions