Removing Structural Barriers to an Inclusive and Just Low-Carbon Transport Transition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Decarbonising the transport sector is fundamental to delivering on national climate commitments and advancing the global ambition of sustainable development. However, the expansion of low-carbon transport does not automatically translate into improved outcomes for all. Multiple structural barriers continue to prevent vulnerable people and persons with disabilities from benefiting equally from the low-carbon transport transition. Barriers to inclusive transport include limited physical access, affordability constraints, and shortcomings in infrastructure and technology, which risk being reinforced in the design and deployment of low-carbon systems. These challenges result from transport systems that optimise for technical or efficiency metrics yet fail to embed social inclusion in their design. A persistent disconnect thus remains between stated policy ambitions, such as delivering inclusive transport infrastructure, enhancing safety, and expanding access, and the realities of implementation on the ground. Addressing these constraints is essential to ensure that transport infrastructure is not only low-carbon but also inclusive, equitable, and just. Following a systematic academic and grey literature review, this policy brief examines the barriers to inclusive low-carbon transport in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).