Event name: EST Regional Meeting and Capacity-Building Workshop towards Accelerating Implementation of the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030)
Date: 16-18 March 2026
Venue: The United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
Co-organizers:
Ministry of the Environment of Japan
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thailand
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)
United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)-DSDG/UN DESA
Overview
The United Nations Centre for Regional Development - Department of Sustainable Development Goals / United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNCRD-DSDG/UN DESA), the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thailand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) will co-organize the EST Regional Meeting and Capacity-Building Workshop towards Accelerating Implementation of the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030) from 16 to 18 March 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will be held as an integral part of UN ESCAP’s Transport Week (16-19 March 2026).
The Regional Meeting and Capacity-Building Workshop is expected to be supported by a wide range of partner organizations, including the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)-Ministry of Transport of Thailand, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Wuppertal Institute, European Space Agency (ESA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) , International Union of Railways (UIC), International Road Federation (IRF), Walk 21, Eco-Mo Foundation, Toyota Transportation Research Institute (TTRI), ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Seongnam City - Republic of Korea, Clean Air Asia, Asian Transport Observatory (ATO), Safetipin, Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Partnership (SLOCAT), Business Environment Council, among others.
The main objective of the Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST), Regional Meeting and Capacity-Building Workshop is to enhance understanding and strengthen capacities including policy, planning, institutional, financial, technical, and data/information capacities of member countries in implementing the goals of the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030). The workshop will also enable participants to assess current transport practices and develop actionable national and local implementation plans on EST, contributing to the objectives of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035).
The workshop will feature technical presentations, policy dialogues, and group exercises, creating a dynamic learning environment that bridges theory and practice. Participants will gain actionable insights into cutting-edge mobility solutions, evolving regulatory frameworks, and effective implementation strategies aligned with the Aichi 2030 Declaration. Each thematic session will include a series of lead lectures designed to provide key learning insights. These lectures will serve as anchor input, presenting global and regional priorities, targets, policy frameworks, tools, standards, and financial mechanisms within the context of the Aichi 2030 Declaration -- highlighting what actions are needed and why they matter.
The workshop is expected to bring together over 120 participants from Asia and the Pacific, including government representatives from EST countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, P.R. China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam, as well as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu.
NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES
- Toyota Motor Asia
- Ministry of the Environment of Japan (Press Release)
CONCEPT NOTE AND PROGRAMME
- Concept Note and Provisional Programme (as of 16 March 2026)
PRESENTATIONS
Session 1: Scope and Objective of the Workshop
- Introduction and Workshop Objectives – UNCRD-DSDG/UN DESA
Session 2: Overview of Progress on Implementation of Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030)
- Monitoring Progress by EST Countries on Implementation of Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030) – Asian Transport Observatory (ATO)
Session 3: Advancing Low-carbon, Resilient, and Environmentally Sound Transport Systems
Lead Lectures:
- Mobility Decarbonization Promotion Projects in Japan – Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
- Mapping the Resilience of Transport Systems in EST Countries – IABG
- Transport Air Pollution Monitoring – Clean Air Asia
- Introducing the Supply-Side Regulations (SSRs) Toolkit and Its Policy Implications for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) – UNEP
Learning Insights:
- Case Study Presentation 1: ADB Experience on Building Resilient, Green and Sustainable Transport in Asia – Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Case Study Presentation 2: Reducing Landslide Vulnerability to Strengthen Resilient Transport and Social Infrastructure – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- Case Study Presentation 3: Low-Carbon Transport Development in Asia: GIZ Experience – GIZ East Asia
- Case Study Presentation 4: JICA’s Experience on Developing Low-carbon, Resilient, and Sustainable Transport Projects in Asia –JICA
- Case Study Presentation 5: China’s Innovations in Low-Carbon, Resilient, and Sustainable Transport and Greenway Development – Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center (GSTIKC), Ministry of Transport, P.R. China
Session 4: Enhancing Efficiency and Promoting Sustainable Connectivity and Logistics
Lead Lectures:
- Seamless Connectivity for People and Goods: Auto Flow Road and Enhancing Multimodal Hubs in Japan – Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan
- Multimodal Transport Operators and Logistic Services – ESCAP
Learning Insights:
- Case Study Presentation 1: Advancing Regional and National Connectivity through Railways in India – Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, India
- Case Study Presentation 2: NX’s Sustainable Solutions for Achieving EST – Nippon Express, Japan
- Study Presentation 3: Improving Trade and Logistics Performance along a Key Asian Road Corridor – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Session 5: Ensuring Access to Sustainable Transport for All
Lead Lectures:
- Access and Connectivity - Insights for Asia and the Pacific in the context of the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030) – ATO
- Transforming Urban Mobility: From Car-Centric to People-Centered Cities for Safe, Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility – UN-Habitat
- Gender-Inclusive Transport Planning and Urban Design for all – Urban Living Lab Center (ULLC), Wuppertal Institute
Learning Insights:
- Case Study Presentation 1: Enhancing Rural-Urban Access and Connectivity: Key Lessons from India – Chennai Metro Rail Limited
- Case Study Presentation 2: Learning Objectives from Urban Access Improvement Projects of AIIB and their Implications towards Aichi 2030 Declarations (2021-2030) – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- Case Study Presentation 3: Future-ready Urban Governance for Inclusive Mobility Solutions for Cities – UNDP
- Ca–se Study Presentation 4: Improving Rural Access and Connectivity to Regional and Global Transport Networks: IRF’s Experience – International Road Federation (IRF)
- Case Study Presentation 5: Ensuring Access to Sustainable Transport for All – ESCAP
Session 6: Country Case Studies Presentations in Addressing the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030)
Session 7: Shaping Safe, Secure and People-centred Urban Mobility for Liveable Cities
Lead Lectures:
- Reclaiming Urban Space Through Walking – CEO Walk21 Foundation
- People-friendly and Nature-centered Urban Planning and Design – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Inclusive Mobility for All: NMT as a Key Enabler of People-Centered Urban Transport – Safetipin
- Safe System Approach to Road Safety: Global and Regional Perspectives – World Health Organization (WHO)
Learning Insights:
- Case Study Presentation 1: Thailand Road Users Safety Improvement through Technology – Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
- Case Study Presentation 2: Seongnam's Human-Centered Maas Project - As the New Standard for Age Positive Future Cities Integrating Technology, Environment, Community and Culture – Seongnam City, Republic of Korea
- Case Study Presentation 3: Implementing Barrier-Free Transport and Micromobility Solutions: Practical Cases from Japan – Eco-Mo Foundation, Japan
- Case Study Presentation 4: Eco-mobility Solutions - Learnings from the region – ICLEI South Asia
Session 8: Country Case Studies Presentations in addressing the Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030)
Session 9: Leveraging Science, Technology and Innovations for Sustainable Transport
Lead Lectures:
- Accelerating the e-Mobility Transition for a Green and Sustainable Urban Future – ESCAP
- Asia E-mobility Platform in the Context of Aichi 2030 Declaration (2021-2030) – Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Utilization of Electric Vehicles for Disaster Response During Emergency Situations –Toyota Transportation Research Institute, Japan
- Emerging Technologies for End-of-Life Battery Recycling – UNEP
Learning Insights:
- Case Study Presentation 1: Promoting e-Mobility in Thailand – Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
- Case Study Presentation 2: The Optimal State of Expressway Networks that contribute to Urban Functionality and Sustainability – Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited, Japan
- Case Study Presentation 3: Advancing e-Mobility in India and PR China – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- Case Study Presentation 4: Roadmaps for Optimizing Vehicle Efficiency and Electrification – GIZ
- Case Study Presentation 5: Driving Tanzania’s Green Transition: Advancing E-Mobility for a Low-Carbon Future – Ministry of Transport, Tanzania
