Protesting the near-exclusive focus on electric cars and total absence of active mobility in the official Transport Day agenda and the draft transport declaration, a global coalition of civil society organisations led by ECF called on world leaders and governments to recognise the importance of cycling to reach climate goals.

The last-minute inclusion of active travel (walking and cycling) and public transport in the “Glasgow Declaration on Accelerating the Transition to 100% Zero Emission Cars and Vans” was a direct result of the joint advocacy efforts by ECF and its 349 allies. While the reference to active travel and public transport is a far cry from what’s needed to cut transport emissions and reach climate goals, it’s an important recognition that will be built upon at the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The coalition’s open letter was first published on 2 November and called on governments at COP26 to boost global cycling levels to cut transport emissions quickly and on a massive scale. Initially signed by over 60 organisations, the letter ultimately clocked 350 signatories from all over the world.

Major signatories include ECF, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), PeopleForBikes, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), International Association of Public Transport (UITP), World Cycling Alliance (WCA) and Greenpeace, who joined the campaign to urge governments to recognise cycling as one of the best solutions we already have to combat the climate crisis.

Worldwide, the transport sector is responsible for 24% of direct CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, with the vast majority coming from cars, and these numbers are not decreasing. With global temperatures rising fast, humanity cannot afford to wait decades for fossil-fuel cars and trucks to be fully replaced by electric vehicles – a solution that will not help solve other problems such as traffic congestion and sedentary lifestyles.

ECF and its allies are convinced cycling represents one of humanity’s greatest hopes for a shift towards a zero-carbon future. Cycling produces zero emissions, delivers far-reaching positive societal impacts and relies on technology that is already widely available today.

The 350 signatories to the open letter called on world leaders and governments to commit to significantly boosting cycling levels at home and globally. The letter was sent to governments ahead of COP26 and publicised widely during the conference.

Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation: “We were delighted that hundreds of organisations from all over the world signed on to join ECF in this campaign. There’s no doubt the open letter helped convince leaders at COP26 to include active mobility in the transport declaration. ECF will continue to harness the power of the pro-cycling movements to push policy- and decisionmakers to enable more cycling as an essential solution to the climate crisis.”

Henk Swarttouw, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation: “The addition of walking and cycling in the COP26 transport declaration is a small but important first step. For the next step, signatories of the declaration will have to put their money where their mouths are and invest in significantly boosting cycling levels. The clock is ticking and preparations for COP27 have already begun.”

Read the open letter to governments: www.COP26cycling.com

Support this and future campaigns by donating to ECF: www.ECF.com/donate