As the climate negotiations start in earnest at COP31, major Australian cities are backing a global citizens initiative calling for targets for cycling to be included in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Working with We Ride Australia, the Lord Mayors of Sydney and Adelaide and the Mayor of the City of Vincent in Perth have provided strong letters of support outlining their commitments to cycling to be presented to COP31.
The letters will be delivered by an international bike relay that has arrived at Antalya in Turkiye, 22,000 kilometres after leaving COP30 in Brazil and passing through more than 110 cities and regions gathering commitments to include concrete actions on cycling by 2030.
COP Bike Ride organisers note that 98 per cent of climate plans have no cycling target, in spite of the obvious and immediate climate benefits.
With Australia holding the position of President of Negotiations through Climate Minister Chris Bowen, We Ride Australia supports pursuing measurable targets as part of Australia’s NDCs with targets for participation, a budget and a plan to deliver an increase in participation.
It applauds the current Governments efforts to provide for cycling with commitments totalling $600 million for an Active Transport Fund in the last two Budgets.
We Ride’s Stephen Hodge said, ‘Relay organiser Jolein Schorel reached out to WeRide requesting support in promoting the relay in the lead up to COP31. In a very short time both the Lord Mayors of Sydney and Adelaide and the Mayor of the City of Vincent in Perth provided strong letters of support outlining their commitments to cycling.
‘Those letters are now with bike ride organisers who are planning to present them to the Parties in Antalya,’ Mr Hodge said.
With moves by cities across the World to provide more options for bike and public transport trips, We Ride Australia has worked with the COP Bike Ride to seek the inclusion of concrete targets for cycling in COP31 NDCs. The Bike Ride has presented ideas for cities and states to boost rates of cycling in 10 proposals.
This follows We Ride’s support for the Partnership for Active Travel and Health’s (PATH) call on all national governments to integrate walking and cycling into the NDCs ahead of COP30.
Update
Yesterday, the first joint media conference was held by the Presidents of COP31 who laid out a plan for 35 per cent electrification by 20235.
While vital, the electrification of transport will continue to require vast investment in coming years for one of the most polluting sectors.
We Ride Australia statement says, ‘We continue to call for a focus on recognising the hugely cost-effective transport benefits of cycling globally – as our friends bringing these letters of commitment to the global climate leaders have said, the fastest climate solution has two wheels and no tailpipe.’
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