Overview
COP30 represents a critical juncture for global climate action. Hosted in the Amazon region, the conference will emphasize themes such as nature-based solutions, social inclusion, and the implementation of climate commitments. UIC will highlight the role of rail as a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive mode of transport that supports these priorities.
Transport accounts for approximately 24% of global CO₂ emissions and remains the fastest-growing source. Rail, as the most energy-efficient motorized transport mode, offers a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and support sustainable development.
COP30 Presidency Priorities
The Brazilian COP30 Presidency has outlined key priorities that align closely with UIC’s vision:
- Just Transition and Social Inclusion: Promoting equitable climate action that leaves no one behind.
- Nature and Biodiversity: Protecting ecosystems, especially the Amazon, through sustainable development.
- Implementation and Finance: Accelerating the delivery of climate commitments with adequate funding mechanisms.
- Global Stocktake Follow-up: Translating the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake into enhanced ambition and action.
As part of the Presidency’s Action Agenda, COP30 will also promote multi-stakeholder engagement and the scaling of sectoral solutions. UIC is actively contributing to this agenda through its Railway Climate Declaration initiative, registered under the UNFCCC’s Global Climate Action (NAZCA) platform. This initiative showcases the commitment of railway companies that have signed the UIC Rail Climate Responsibility Pledge, demonstrating the sector’s alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Key messages
1. Rail in NDC 3.0: A Strategic Opportunity
Building on its previous work analysing the role of rail in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and developing a dedicated NDC template for the sector, UIC is now reviewing the updated NDCs that countries are submitting to the UNFCCC in 2025. This ongoing analysis aims to assess the extent to which rail are being integrated into NDCs.
2. Unlocking Article 6.4 for Rail and Public Transport
The Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4 introduces the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), which can help make rail projects financially viable, especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
Together with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), UIC developed the joint position paper on “Unlocking Article 6.4 for Rail and Public Transport in NDCs”, which emphasizes the need for:
- Making Additionality Work for Public Transport & Rail Article 6.4 can help translate NDC commitments into bankable projects, making it financially sustainable for public or private projects holders. Making these projects viable through supplementary funding - especially in LMICs where many NDCs include conditional commitments reliant on international support - will enable climate additionality by delivering emissions reductions that would not have occurred without such support, due to challenges like creditworthiness, cost of debt and low public spending capacity.
- Enable Subnational Entities Access to Article 6.4 Urban rail and public transport projects are often designed, managed, and delivered by regional or municipal authorities. For Article 6.4 to be effective in these sectors, national frameworks must enable subnational entities to directly access carbon market mechanisms. This requires alignment between national climate goals and local development priorities, mechanisms and administrative structures that allow equitable access to carbon financing across levels of government.
- Develop Sector-Specific Criteria Methodologies Article 6.4 methodology standards could reduce urban transport emissions by up to 50% by 2050. Ongoing advancements in electrification and energy efficiency will further strengthen their climate impact. To fully capture these benefits within the Article 6.4 framework, it is essential to adapt or develop methodologies in close consultation with sector experts. Doing so will ensure more accurate emissions accounting, enhance environmental integrity, and unlock greater investment in
- Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Frameworks Promote Integrated Investments and Policy Frameworks UITP’s NDC Template. 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given Article 6.4’s requirement for projects to deliver sustainable development co-benefits, investment in these sectors should be prioritised
- Promote Integrated Investments and Policy Frameworks To ensure impact, scalability, and long-term sustainability, PACM-supported interventions should be reinforced by coherent and enabling policies, including NDCs - including supportive regulations, robust local governance, urban mobility strategies, and incentives for low-carbon transport - as recommended by UIC’s and UITP’s NDC Template.
- Prioritise SDG Investments in Rail and Public Transport Rail and public transport systems contribute directly to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given Article 6.4’s requirement for projects to deliver sustainable development co-benefits, investment in these sectors should be prioritised to maximize SDG alignment.to maximize SDG alignment.
By integrating Article 6.4 into rail financing strategies, countries can reduce the cost of NDC implementation and accelerate the shift to low-carbon transport systems.
UIC at COP30: Events and Engagements
UIC will participate in a series of high-level events, panels, and side sessions throughout COP30. A full list of events, speakers, and times will be published shortly.