On 12 December 2023, the Cities Project of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) held an online exchange on innovative urban mobility, fostering collaboration among officials from Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), and cities in China, including Songyang, Xiamen, and Zhengzhou.
Mobility requirements are inherently diverse, influenced by factors like gender and neighborhood. The landscape of mobility undergoes rapid and substantial changes, exemplified by the normalization of remote activities such as telecommuting, education, and cultural pursuits.
A crucial aspect of addressing these changes lies in comprehending the development, organization, and mutation of urban activities. Understanding the dynamic nature of different places and recognizing the intricate interplay within their social and economic fabric is essential.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Sustainable Mobility Plan 2030 served as a foundational framework for creating accessible, sustainable, metropolitan, safe, and personalized mobility. Coordination at multiple scales, and adoption of new technologies are fundamental to meet evolving mobility needs.
Xiamen, China, illustrated its commitment to a green mobility system, emphasizing light rail transit and Bus Rapid Transfer (BRT), with over 70 percent of residents actively choosing eco-friendly transportation. Smart mobility initiatives, such as a universal QR code for multiple ride types and a 90 percent e-payment rate for public transportation fare, were highlighted.
Representative of Santiago, Chile provided insights into the progress of UNOSSC-UNDP pilot project in sustainable and low-carbon transportation, initiated in December 2022. Two capacity building field trips have been taken between Hangzhou, China and Santiago, promoting South-South knowledge exchange and transfer.
Officials from Songyang and Zhengzhou, China also shared their successful mobility practices, tailored to their cities’ unique landscapes and population needs, addressing the diverse requirements of different groups and scenarios.
At the event, Xiamen and Zhengzhou have expressed a keen interest in fostering potential bilateral collaboration with Buenos Aires and Santiago. The UNOSSC Cities Project stands ready to facilitate South-South cooperation between Chinese and Latin American cities in the future, fostering meaningful partnerships for sustainable urban development.
About South-South Cities Clusters
The UNOSSC Cities Project seeks to promote South-South and Triangular Cooperation at the city and local levels. The South-South Cities Clusters are part of the South-South Galaxy virtual platform that facilitates information sharing, knowledge exchange, networking, and project collaboration among cities, local authorities, UN agencies, and other development partners. Currently, it offers interactive thematic spaces on:
- COVID-19 Response and Public Health
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation in Resilient Cities
- Sustainable Tourism, Heritage Protection and Creative Economy
- Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain Development
- E-Commerce, Digitization and Smart Cities
- Sustainable Transport and Air Quality
- Waste Management, Green Cities and Renewable Energy