Chapter 15: Towards Low-carbon Mobility in Rapidly Growing Economies: Challenges and Lessons from Latin America

The transition to low-carbon mobility represents a critical juncture for rapidly growing economies facing the dual challenge of still-low-but-rising levels of private motorisation and the choice for purposefully developing a system anchored in public transport that supports fair and equitable access in proximity (Logan et al., 2022; Teoh et al., 2020). Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have experienced rapid urbanisation since the 1970s, with 82% of the region’s population living in urban settlements (United Nations, 2018). Fast-paced changes in the region’s demographics have led to changes in urban mobility systems, primarily driven by a strong emphasis on high-capacity public transport and improved non-motorised connections. This chapter reflects on the drivers of Latin America’s everchanging urban mobility ecosystems and the innovations in transport policy and practice that have enabled the region to respond to some of its most salient challenges for access and connectivity, reflecting on their implications for the region’s transition to low-carbon mobility. Low-carbon transitions in mobility are a significant contributing factor to the global push for net zero. In LAC and other contexts of the global south, this climate-responsive agenda also tackles persisting deficits in infrastructures and accessibility needs through clean technologies for urban transport and the fair, safe, and enjoyable use of active travel.