Alstom, a ‘global leader in sustainable and green mobility solutions’, has taken part in a study —
Bridging the rail finance gap: challenges and opportunities for low- and lower middle-income countries — detailing the potential of rail infrastructure expansion in low-income countries (LICs) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) for mitigating climate change.
Jointly conducted by the
International Union of Railways (UIC), the
University of Birmingham, and
Roland Berger (an international management consultancy), the study highlights key recommendations as to how governments, international finance institutions, the international community and the railway industry need to work together to invest in rail and ‘decouple economic growth in LICs and LMICs from transport emissions growth’.
Cécile Texier, Alstom’s vice-president CSR (corporate social responsibility) and sustainability, said: “This study lays out a concrete roadmap for transforming transportation through sustainable rail infrastructure, and clearly demonstrates how targeted investments and strategic planning in rail systems in low-income and lower middle-income countries can lead to substantial CO
2 reductions and support sustainable development. This is about making tangible progress in our global environmental goals while shaping the future of mobility.
“The study underscores the essential role of rail infrastructure in driving sustainable development in LIC and LIMC countries and shows that expanding rail infrastructure by up to 192,000km (180,000km inter-urban and 12,000km urban) could allow the modal share of rail to quadruple to 8%’. This could see the avoidance of 1.8 gigatonnes of CO
2 emissions by 2050, a globally significant contribution to climate action. It would also create formal jobs and deliver benefits in terms of increased accessibility and connectivity, as well as bringing much lower negative external costs in comparison to other modes.”
Mr Texier added: “This study lays out a concrete roadmap for transforming transportation through sustainable rail infrastructure, and clearly demonstrates how targeted investments and strategic planning in rail systems in low-income and lower middle-income countries can lead to substantial CO2 reductions and support sustainable development. This is about making tangible progress in our global environmental goals while shaping the future of mobility.”