Policies that mandate the creation and expansion of infrastructure that facilitates access to zero or lower emissions options are included in this category such as low emission zones, off-grid electrification, public passenger transport infrastructure. a. Low emission zones (LEZs) and zero-emission zones (ZEZs): This is an approach to reduce congestion, improve air quality and prioritise public transport, walking and cycling. LEZs and ZEZs can also cover freight vehicles and restrict the access of polluting vans and trucks to city centres. Demand from policy makers and citizens for improved urban air quality in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for additional LEZs and ZEZs. Source: SLOCAT (2021), Tracking Trends in a Time of Change: The Need for Radical Action Towards Sustainable Transport Decarbonisation, Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report – 2nd edition, www.tcc-gsr.com b. Public passenger transport: The policies that promote project-level investments to create or extend specific mass passenger transport infrastructure are included in this category. This includes infrastructure for bus rapid transit (BRT), tram, metro, cable cars, etc. These actions expand the capacity, frequency, speed and/or coverage of public transport with the goal of increasing its mode share while decreasing the mode share of less efficient modes, especially private vehicles. Secondary goals are to increase per vehicle occupancy of public transport, update the vehicles and improve traffic flow. The outcomes of successful implementation of this mitigation action are expected to increase the mode share of public transport to reduce the vehicle kilometer travelled of private vehicles, and increase the overall efficiency of public transport, leading to reduced GHG emissions through lower overall vehicle kilometer travelled and transport energy use in the region. Mass transit investments are known to generate a number of sustainable development co-benefits, which may include access to affordable mobility, shorter travel times and fewer accidents. It can also encourage more compact urban development with increased non-motorized transport, reduced vehicle ownership and improved health outcomes owing to more opportunities to exercise and lower pollution levels. Source: UNFCCC, Compendium on GHG Baselines and Monitoring, Passenger and freight transport, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Transport_0.pdf c. Electricity grids connection: Policies that support the interconnection of electricity grids are included in this category. Sometimes the most competitive wind and solar resources are spatially uneven, international transmission could allow such regions as a whole to benefit from “no-regrets” or low-cost, low-impact, and highly accessible resources. International energy trade also lowers system costs by reducing the need for conventional power plants and allows lower impact, more accessible renewable energy sites to be cost competitive. Regional interconnections planned around strategic siting opportunities are crucial for realizing no-regrets wind and solar energy development that can be competitive with conventional generation in many countries. Source: https://www.pnas.org/content/114/15/E3004 d. Off-grid electrification: Countries are increasingly mainstreaming off-grid renewable energy solutions within national energy access strategies. Electrification infrastructure planning and strategies should clearly identify those areas of the country that will be reached by grid extension within a reasonable time frame, as well as those suitable for off-grid solutions. Holistic and integrated energy access strategies must be backed by dedicated policies and regulations designed for different off-grid solutions, such as mini-grids and stand-alone systems. Moving beyond key investment risks, policies also need to address aspects related to capacity building and linkages between the sector and productive end-uses. All of these have a strong bearing on the scalability of off- grid solutions and the socio-economic outcomes of deployment policies. An appropriate institutional framework is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of national energy access strategies and related policies. Some countries (notably in sub-Saharan Africa) have created new institutions to support rural electrification activities, while others have placed the responsibility for rural electrification within existing ministries or agencies. In several countries, financial institutions have been empowered to champion the development of the off-grid sector. Although approaches differ according to country contexts, successful strategies share some traits, such as simplified and streamlined administrative procedures, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and cooperation among diverse national and international institutions and agencies.