E-Mobility as a Driver for Change: Towards a gender transformative and just transition to electric mobility

United Nations 1 year ago

This report is the first deliverable under the project “E-Mobility as a Driver for Change - Towards a gender transformative and just transition to electric mobility” which is being implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project aims to ensure that the introduction of, and shift to, electric mobility (E-Mobility) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will include and promote the position and interests of women, to create a more gender transformative and just transport sector. Engaging more women in the E-Mobility ecosystem can in turn help to speed up the transition to zero emission mobility systems. This report has the objective to increase the knowledge and evidence base, internationally and locally, on how women can play a more important role in accelerating the take up of E-Mobility based on improved data availability. There is a unique opportunity to revise the current planning and decision making paradigm in transport as the transition to E-Mobility accelerates and disrupts the established system based on Internal Combustion Engine vehicles (ICEVs). It will also bring in new players and innovative opportunities leading to a more inclusive transport sector.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 5 hours ago



The momentum across the sustainable construction sector continues to accelerate as firms integrate whole life carbon assessment and embodied carbon strategies into mainstream practice. Tailored Lifestyle Group, a UK-based design enterprise, is emerging as a leader in sustainable building design, embedding low carbon construction materials and eco-design for buildings at the centre of its projects. The company’s portfolio reflects a growing alignment between aesthetic ambition and measurable environmental outcomes, proving that net zero carbon buildings can combine design quality with resource efficiency. Their model underscores how whole life carbon accounting now sits alongside design intent as a standard measure of project value.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping environmental sustainability in construction through tools like Greyparrot’s Analyser. By improving the traceability and reuse of materials, the technology enables construction companies to address circular economy in construction challenges from the design stage through demolition. The AI-driven analysis helps reduce the carbon footprint of construction, enabling progress on decarbonising the built environment while supporting more accurate lifecycle assessment data. This data-centric approach reflects the rise of circular construction strategies, prioritising reuse, recycling, and end-of-life reuse in construction to achieve low-impact construction targets.

Investment in the workforce remains an equally decisive factor. As the demand for net zero whole life carbon delivery rises, firms face increasing pressure to cultivate a skilled labour base proficient in sustainable building practices, life cycle thinking in construction, and carbon neutral construction. Industry training that aligns with BREEAM v7 and BREEAM standards will be instrumental in maintaining compliance and driving the next generation of sustainable architecture. Without an adequately prepared workforce, the shift to eco-friendly construction and the improvement of building lifecycle performance risk stalling before meaningful decarbonisation can be achieved.

Policy and finance are converging to reinforce these technical shifts. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has introduced global guidance that ensures sustainability criteria inform bank lending valuations. Factoring life cycle cost, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and the environmental impact of construction into valuation processes strengthens the financial viability of green building materials and sustainable material specification. These measures also improve visibility of green building products within mainstream investment, translating ecological design into tangible economic performance.

Fire safety advances illustrate that sustainable design must consider resilience as central to green construction. Recent recognition from the Association for Specialist Fire Protection highlights innovation in passive fire systems that enhance both safety and low carbon design integration. As energy-efficient buildings become more airtight and adopt renewable building materials, rigorous design evaluation is vital to managing risk without undermining performance. The collective direction of these innovations confirms that the future of sustainable construction and sustainable urban development depends on joined-up thinking—where circular economy principles, resource efficiency in construction, and carbon footprint reduction become inseparable from quality, safety, and value.

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