Sustainable transport: which are the challenges for future project managers?

11 Oct 2022

RINA’s next-gen Project Managers promote sustainable transport

What does sustainable transport mean? 

The Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Group defined sustainable transport as “the provision of services and infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods, advancing economic and social development to benefit today’s and future generations, in a manner that is safe, affordable, accessible, efficient, and resilient, while minimizing carbon and other emissions and environmental impacts” in its 2016 report.  

Therefore, sustainable transport has to: 

• guarantee universal access 
• enhance safety 
• reduce environmental and climate impact 
• improve resilience
• provide greater efficiency 

An overview of the transport sector’s emissions 

Do you know that according to IEA (https://www.iea.org/topics/transport), in 2020 the transport sector was responsible for 24% of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion? 

For the 2000–2019 period, aviation emissions rose by an annual average rate of 2%, which was associated with an average annual increase of 5% in commercial passenger flight activity.

In the maritime sector things are not that different: the GHG emissions of shipping as a whole (international, domestic, and fishing) stood at close to 3% of the total global figure in 2018.  

Which are the current challenges that future project managers need to know?  

Nowadays, project managers working in the transport sector need to be aware of the following challenges:  

• Demographic change: the global population is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, with the rate of growth varying from region to region. Therefore, larger populations will require transport systems capable of handling the higher demand, whereas areas with ageing populations will need transport services that are inclusive and accessible. 
• Globalization: our globalized economy relies on international trade, which creates demand for high-volume freight transport and complex global supply chains, whereas tourism relies on passenger transport using all modes. So, again, transport services that can manage higher demand.  
• Climate change and extreme weather events: climate change and extreme weather events are adding new challenges to the transport sector and its systems and infrastructure, for example the sea level rise, flooding, and more frequent and severe storms and droughts. In fact, the resulting damage, disruption, and delays involve extensive human and economic costs.

And what about opportunities for the transport sector? 

Besides challenges, there are also several opportunities for project managers working in the transport field. 

One of them is digitalization: people can increasingly access many online services, experiences, and even jobs from their own home, which can reduce the demand for travel, both commuting and business trips.  

Therefore, project managers have several opportunities to make the transport sector more environmentally friendly.  

Join the next gen Project Managers of RINA and promote sustainable transport  

RINA takes part in several international research and innovation programs to provide people with safe and reliable mobility services. 

Would you like to contribute in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Change Agreement? 

Visit our career site and join RINA’s next-gen Project Managers!