Today, UIC releases the third edition of its Global Rail Sustainability Report, coinciding with the United Nations International Sustainable Transport Day. To mark this symbolic date, UIC is highlighting rail’s essential role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and preparing for the upcoming UN Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport (2026–2035).
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2023, the Decade aims to accelerate the transition toward inclusive, efficient, and low-carbon transport systems worldwide. By publishing this report today, UIC is reaffirming its commitment to these global objectives and calls for collective action to strengthen intermodal connectivity, reduce emissions, and promote socially inclusive mobility.
The 2024 Global Rail Sustainability Report brings together the latest transparent UIC data from the Rail Sustainability Index (RSi), the Traction Energy & Emissions Database (TED), and RAIL Information System and Analyses (RAILISA) also providing sector-wide insights, and practical case studies to illustrate rail’s role as the backbone of sustainable transport and its broader contribution to responsible employment, communities, and economic development. The data is shared directly from UIC’s global membership, demonstrating the remarkable progress and contributions being made by railways across the world.
As part of this, Lia Talarico, Trenitalia International, Chair of the UIC Sustainability Platform, commented: “Rail is not only the backbone of sustainable mobility, but also a catalyst for climate action, resilience, and inclusive growth. The data, case studies, and innovations shared here reflect our global rail community’s collective drive. But this drive must now translate into action.” (....)