Uganda’s transport sector is currently defined by men driving heavily polluting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles on poor quality roads. Motorcycle-taxis have come to be a defining aspect of the transport sector in Uganda, particularly in regional towns and rural areas.1 Women report widespread harassment in the transport sector and are vanishingly rare as motorcycle-taxi or minibus operators. While they represent less than 1% of motorcycle-taxi drivers, they have made more inroads in government roles and in mobility startups. However, official gender-disaggregated data on the sector is severely lacking, with only very limited public data on vehicle imports and registrations, workforce composition, the occasional qualitative report on women in transport, and private sector data that is not made public. The e-mobility industry in Uganda has begun to address some of the major gender gaps in transportation but remains a long way off in gender parity in both leadership and ridership. From a brief survey of the sector, women tend to make up between 30-50% of the e-mobility startup workforce, but without known female founders or executives. Additionally, women electric motorcycle riders represent only around 2.3% of the e-motorcycle fleet, though this is higher than the less than 1% operating in the ICE motorcycle fleet. This report is a 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.
Retirement Villages Group has announced science-based plans for verified net zero whole life carbon communities. The company is integrating sustainable building design into all stages of development, aiming to set a new sector benchmark. By embedding whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment practices into construction and operations, the approach highlights a commitment to reducing embodied carbon in materials and minimising the carbon footprint of construction. This push signals growing momentum toward net zero carbon buildings designed for long-term performance.
Calls are increasing to recognise UK housing stock as a critical asset in the clean energy transition. Industry voices underline the importance of retrofitting and decentralised energy systems for social housing. Upgrading to energy-efficient buildings is seen as essential both for reducing embodied carbon and for improving building life cycle cost performance. With residential property contributing heavily to emissions, low carbon design and sustainable building practices are emerging as decisive tools in achieving decarbonising the built environment goals.
At a global level, ISO and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol are working towards harmonising reporting standards. This development could streamline whole life carbon assessment and environmental product declarations (EPDs) across construction and other sectors. A single framework would ease compliance for developers while providing greater transparency on life cycle cost and environmental sustainability in construction. The simplified approach could accelerate adoption of circular construction strategies and improve accuracy in measuring the environmental impact of construction.
In Europe, more than 200 companies have voiced opposition to the draft Omnibus Directive, warning it could undermine advances in sustainability reporting. Construction firms making substantial investment in sustainable construction and whole life carbon frameworks now face uncertainty over compliance requirements. For organisations focused on sustainable material specification and carbon footprint reduction, shifting regulations threaten both reputational standing and return on investment in green infrastructure.
SOCOTEC UK and Ireland have expanded their technical capabilities through the acquisition of Lloyds Datum Group, strengthening expertise in foundation testing, structural monitoring, and environmental systems. This move aligns with demand for sustainable construction outcomes, where early-stage oversight supports eco-design for buildings and low embodied carbon materials. Strong control at the foundation stage is essential to delivering low carbon buildings that meet performance, resource efficiency in construction, and life cycle thinking in construction criteria.
The “Unlocking the Value of Social Housing” report stresses that delivering sustainable urban development requires addressing affordability alongside emissions cuts. Ensuring access to low carbon construction materials and renewable building materials for housing projects is critical for both carbon neutral construction and social equity. With the built environment central to climate goals, a transition to eco-friendly construction and net zero carbon housing must also ensure end-of-life reuse in construction and alignment with circular economy in construction strategies.
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