The energy of APAC’s mega-cities is undeniable – the buzzing scooters, packed buses, and endless streams of cars make urban life dynamic, but they’re also a major source of carbon emissions and pollution. How we move around our cities shapes more than just our daily commutes; it defines urban landscapes and influences lifestyles.
As cities across Asia-Pacific push toward sustainability, rethinking urban transport is key. It’s about more than just swapping gas cars for electric ones. It’s about making cities walkable, cycling-friendly, and efficient. It’s about integrating digital tech for smarter mobility and designing public spaces that encourage people to ditch their cars. In this piece, we’ll dive into the role of low-carbon transport in building greener cities—covering everything from the rise of EVs and micromobility to smarter public transport and urban design that reduces car dependency. Plus, we’ll highlight some of the exciting changes happening across APAC, from China’s EV explosion to the bike-friendly shifts in Southeast Asia and mass transit expansions in major cities.
Globally, transport is responsible for about 15% of CO₂ emissions, and unfortunately, it’s one of the few sectors where emissions are still climbing. In Asia-Pacific, the situation is particularly alarming—since 2015, transport has been the second-fastest-growing source of emissions in the region (right after power). In 2023, APAC’s transport emissions jumped 6.6%—the highest increase of any sector—making up 12% of the region’s total emissions and a staggering 40% of global transport emissions.
So, what’s driving this? Rising incomes have fueled a surge in car ownership, while freight traffic keeps expanding to support growing trade. If APAC cities keep following a car-centric model, it’ll be tough to meet global climate targets. But here’s the silver lining: many Asian cities still have lower car ownership rates compared to Western countries, meaning there’s a real opportunity to leapfrog straight into new mobility models without being locked into outdated ones. The choices made today—whether it’s infrastructure investments, vehicle regulations, or urban design—will have massive long-term impacts.
And it’s not just about climate. Transport is tied to air quality (think of the smog in Delhi or Jakarta), public health (active transport vs. sedentary lifestyles), and even economic productivity (traffic congestion can drain 2-5% of a city’s GDP). Shifting to low-carbon mobility isn’t just an environmental move; it’s a win for cleaner air, better health, and more livable cities.
One of the biggest game-changers in decarbonizing transport is the shift to electric vehicles (EVs). Unlike traditional gasoline or diesel cars, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions and, when powered by renewables, have significantly lower lifetime carbon footprints. APAC is leading the way—especially China, which is spearheading the global EV revolution.
In 2021 alone, global EV sales hit a record 6.6 million, with China accounting for about half of those. The government has been pushing hard, with strong subsidies and policies targeting 40% of new car sales to be electric by 2030. India is also getting in on the action, aiming for 30% of private cars and 80% of two- and three-wheelers to be electric by 2030. ASEAN countries like Thailand and Indonesia are setting ambitious EV adoption targets while also attracting EV manufacturing.
But here’s an interesting twist: the real EV revolution in APAC might not be cars, but two-wheelers. In places like Vietnam, India, and Indonesia, affordable e-scooters and e-bikes are taking off, offering a practical and low-cost alternative to traditional motorbikes. China alone has over 300 million electric two-wheelers in use, significantly cutting down urban pollution.
Beyond personal vehicles, electrification is transforming public transport too. Shenzhen, China, has fully electrified its bus fleet—16,000 electric buses!—and is now doing the same for taxis. Seoul and Singapore are running electric bus trials with plans for full fleet electrification in the 2030s. Even freight transport is going electric, with logistics companies like DHL rolling out EV delivery vans in APAC’s major cities.
Of course, for EVs to be truly green, the electricity powering them needs to come from clean sources. Many APAC countries are ramping up renewable energy, meaning that over time, the carbon footprint of EVs will only improve. Charging infrastructure is another crucial piece of the puzzle, and APAC is making big moves—China alone has over a million public charging points. Some governments are also promoting battery swapping (especially for two-wheelers and taxis), eliminating wait times for charging.
Electrifying cars is important, but the bigger picture is reducing car reliance altogether, especially for short trips. That’s where micromobility (bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters) and active transport (walking, cycling) come in. Many Asian cities have historically been bike- and pedestrian-friendly—think of Beijing’s bicycle-filled streets in the 1980s or Hong Kong’s walkable urban core. While motorbikes and cars have since taken over in some places, efforts to reclaim bike culture are gaining traction.
Bike-sharing programs have evolved—after the dockless bike-sharing boom (and bust) of the mid-2010s, more structured systems like Taipei’s YouBike, Seoul’s Ddareungi, and New Delhi’s public bike-sharing are proving successful. E-bikes are also a game-changer, making cycling more accessible, especially in hilly areas. In Vietnam and Indonesia, startups and city programs are nudging people toward electric two-wheelers as a cleaner alternative to motorbikes.
At the same time, cities are realizing the importance of walkability. Pedestrians form the backbone of any transit system, yet in car-centric urban planning, they’re often an afterthought. That’s changing. Cities like Mumbai and Bangalore are experimenting with car-free “streets for people” initiatives, and Seoul’s removal of an elevated highway to restore the Cheonggyecheon stream is a great example of reclaiming urban space. The ‘15-minute city’ concept—where daily needs like work, schools, and shops are within a short walk or bike ride—is shaping redevelopment projects in Shanghai and Singapore.
APAC’s diversity—from ultra-dense metropolises to fast-growing secondary cities—means there’s no single solution. But some clear strategies are emerging: electrification, multimodal integration, and human-centric urban planning.
The EV shift ensures that vehicles are as clean as possible. Multimodal integration—bringing together public transport, shared mobility, and digital MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) solutions—makes it easier for people to ditch private cars. And urban planning that prioritizes walkability and cycling can fundamentally reshape how people move.
Startups and investors have a big role to play, whether it’s in charging infrastructure, better batteries, mobility apps, or even transit-oriented real estate. Governments, meanwhile, face the challenge of balancing short-term congestion problems with long-term sustainability goals. Sometimes the best way to fix traffic isn’t to add more lanes, but to create better alternatives.
Ultimately, a low-carbon transport system doesn’t just cut emissions—it makes cities quieter, safer, and more enjoyable to live in. APAC has the opportunity to lead by example, showing how smart mobility and thoughtful urban planning can create cities where getting around is both eco-friendly and convenient for all.