Two countries have recently made entries to the UNFCCC NAMA Registry with a focus on transport and development.

Colombia and Ethiopia have proposed Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) to lower greenhouse gases, lessen air pollution, and increase the use of public transportation.

The NAMAs from Ethiopia and Columbia are just the latest indications of the groundswell of strategic climate action initiated by developing countries and supported by the international community.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a new light rail system is about to get under way and the country’s NAMA is designed to encourage optimum use of that system and support the fledgling national rail industry.

In addition, it would alleviate traffic congestion, create a healthier atmosphere and deliver better access to jobs and services.

Ethiopia’s NAMA is in the preparation phase, and currently seeking international support to continue. Once the NAMA is funded, Ethiopia will begin the process of determining relevant policies, establishing required zoning, designing the plan, and conducting environmental impact assessments.

On the heels of more than a decade of exemplary, award-winning improvements to the city's privately run bus industry, Bogota in Colombia has emerged as a global leader in low-emissions development.

To begin implementation of the country's Transit Oriented Development NAMA, Colombia was recently awarded funding from the NAMA Facility, a group of development agencies that support developing countries that show leadership on tackling climate change, and that want to implement transformational country-led NAMAs.

The NAMA will generate co-benefits by improving the quality of life, economic development, social equity, preservation of natural habitat, and energy independence in Colombia. Specifically in cities, individuals will enjoy better neighborhoods, lower costs of transportation and less pollution.

The NAMA Facility’s support for Colombia’s NAMA is recorded in the UNFCCC NAMA Registry as a successful match between international financial, technical, and capacity building support and climate action in a developing country.

For more information and to access the relevant links, see the article on the NAMA website.