Although cities occupy only 3% of the Earth's land, they are home to about 3.5 billion people, or half of the world's population, which leads to them accouting for 95% of the carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector. As the number of city residents continues to grow, so do air pollution levels, traffic congestion, and, subsequently, more wasted money and time, harm to public health, and damage to the environment. Experts unanimously agree: these problems can be addressed by developing sustainable transport.

Sustainable transport, which is celebrated globally on November 26, is a mode of movement or its organization that has a smaller environmental impact, reduces traffic jams, and contributes to improving quality of life as well as public health.

Sustainable mobility includes walking, cycling, scooter riding, public transport, as well as eco-friendly cars, transit-oriented traffic reduction, the use of shared transport, and the development of efficient and environmentally friendly urban transport systems, which not only save city space but also encourage a healthier lifestyle.

According to Professor Dr. Olegas Prentkovskis, Dean of the Faculty of Transport Engineering at VILNIUS TECH, in the long term, sustainable transport is extremely valuable. For example, traditional transport emits about 25% of all greenhouse gases, whereas sustainable transport emits almost none or significantly less.

"Moreover, it is economically promising, helps create new jobs, positively contributes to sustainable national and international development, and social justice—for example, public transport and non-motorized vehicles become accessible to everyone, regardless of economic, social, or physical differences," shares the Dean of the Faculty of Transport Engineering at VILNIUS TECH.

Changing travel habits is necessary

One of the best examples of sustainable transport is public transport, which is one of the most sustainable, eco-friendly, and efficient modes of transportation. According to Darius Snieska, Regional Manager of UAB “SCANIA Lithuania,” the more people use such services, the more benefit the entire transport infrastructure gains.

Loreta Levulyte-Staskeviciene, head of JUDU, agrees and states that public transport allows cities to be built where air quality improves, noise is reduced, and mobility becomes more convenient, all of which contribute to the higher quality of life. However, to ensure better urban mobility, it is essential to change travel habits.

"This is a huge challenge, for which more buses and trolleybuses are not enough. An effective transport system is created holistically—integrating different transport modes, routes, city planning, and social as well as environmental factors," explains JUDU Director Loreta Levulyte-Staskeviciene. "By 2030, we aim to balance mobility in the capital so that more than 70% of trips within the city will be sustainable—without a car, which means that residents and visitors will choose public transport, micro-mobility, and walking as an alternative."

Public awareness is crucial

According to Darius Snieska, the transport sector is also facing the task of adapting to new market conditions, customer needs, and technologies—alternative fuels are emerging, car-sharing companies are competing with private clients, longer distances are often covered by airplanes, and alternative transport modes are becoming more popular.

Moreover, transport must meet many sustainability requirements—it should be comfortable for the client, quiet, maneuverable, made from recycled materials, easy to maintain and repair, and cause as little environmental pollution as possible, especially in places where people gather.
While vehicles are becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly, new technologies come with additional costs that must be covered by the end consumer.

"Often, the initial investment in new transport technologies is higher, but over their lifetime, they become a much more efficient and financially advantageous alternative to current technologies. It's hard for clients to accept this, as they usually only see the upfront investment, so it's important to educate the market. We must also remember that automation and AI technologies will offer possibilities that current transport cannot. Currently, flexible vehicle service and repair prevention algorithms help cars run longer without unscheduled repairs, which means maintenance cost reduction," says Darius Snieska, Regional Manager of UAB “SCANIA Lithuania.”

It is clear that in order to achieve sustainable changes, it is very important to increase public awareness, change their attitudes, and habits.

"The emergence of alternative energy sources is a very welcome phenomenon, however, even the most eco-friendly car can still cause traffic jams, which swallow a lot of time, and that time comes at a price. The key is not just ecology—transport must be used appropriately," emphasizes Darius Snieska.