Low Carbon Transition of Urban Mobility in Yichang (Hubei)

China is both a major contributor to rising global greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change and negatively affected by its adverse impacts. As the world’s largest emitter, accounting for 31 percent of CO2 (2021), China’s contribution to reducing global climate risks and achieving the Objectives of the Paris Agreement is indispensable. China has made ambitious commitments to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Towards these long-term goals, the Government of China (GoC) has set up a steering group and is formulating the 1 plus N policy framework, in which the 1 refers to one national-level policy framework and the N to specific solutions to achieve peak carbon emissions by 2030. The 1 national policy is stipulated in the Working Guidance for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy issued in October 2021. The N started with the Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030 issued in October 2021 and will be followed by upcoming plans by sectoral ministries and sub-national governments on their respective sectors and jurisdictions, to translate the national targets into disaggregated local benchmarks and specific actions to achieve them. The policy framework focuses on the ten areas, one of which is building a green and low-carbon transportation system. Fulfilling the climate commitments towards carbon-neutral economy, while sustaining economic growth, is the primary mid-century goal for China. In the context of a growing middle class, rising global trade, and continuing urbanization and motorization, balancing these objectives poses serious challenges and will require a series of policy reforms, significant investments including in green infrastructure, technology innovations, and institutional strengthening to support coordinated implementation. To ensure inclusive growth, it is also essential to identify and mitigate risks associated with the...