The Sustainable Mobility team wrote this blog at ICLEI World Secretariat.

EcoLogistics was a major focus during the ICLEI World Congress for local governments, held 11-13 May, 2022, in Malmö, Sweden. Hsien-Ming Lee, Vice Mayor of Taoyuan City,  invited city leaders from Portland, USA, Pittsburgh, USA, Vancouver, Canada and Utrecht, Netherlands,  to discuss how they are implementing initiatives and policies to achieve a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Participants shared their experiences in achieving sustainable urban development and localizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, exploring the impact of innovation and smart cities on private and public partnerships and how post-covid cities can ensure inclusive mobility of people and goods.

Li-Teh Lu, Director of the Department of Environmental Protection, said  Taoyuan City has set a target for net-zero emissions by 2050. The city’s carbon reduction path includes cutting emissions 40 percent by 2030 through developing green energy and expanding electric and people-centered transportation. The industrial sector in Taoyuan has also set the same carbon reduction targets.

Adriane Carr, Board Member for Metro Vancouver, said that Vancouver has enacted a climate plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The city is actively working with partners to reduce annual carbon emissions in the transport, construction, industrial, and agricultural sectors.

Sharon Dijksma, Mayor of  Utrecht, Netherlands, said Utrecht’s transportation policy of providing electric vehicle infrastructure and encouraging residents to walk and bike to their destinations has reduced the use of cars for short trips. In the building sector, the city has increased the use of green energy by encouraging residents to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes.

Chun-Ting Wu, Minister of the Research and Evaluation Commission, shared  Taoyuan’s Voluntary Review Report (VLR), in which the city highlights health and well-being, secure housing and employment, and urban resilience as three major targets, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A second VLR will be released later in 2022. 

Jennifer Olzinger, Procurement Manager for the Office of Management and Budget, said  Pittsburgh has entered into a professional services agreement to transform the budget into a project- and program-based document consistent with the city’s sustainability goals. Pittsburgh conducted a voluntary local review in 2021 that aligned the city’s climate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The ICLEI EcoLogistics community leads sustainable urban freight development in participating cities and drives global actions in the international stage through collaborative exchange and action plans, and stakeholder engagements. Recently this included producing the Low Carbon Action Plan for Urban Freight (LCAP-UF) for cities in India, Colombia, and Argentina. Currently, Taoyuan is writing a white paper on EcoLogistics to be released this year.

In the era of post-pandemic, extreme climate, and net-zero challenges, cities need more opportunities to share their experiences and learn from each other. Discussions such as this one organized by Taoyuan at the ICLEI World Congress help cities achieve their climate and sustainability goals.