Infrastructure and Transport

• Access to all-season roads is essential for connecting rural populations to services and promoting sustainable development.
• High rural road access in Europe and North America reflects robust infrastructure, with rates exceeding 82%.
• Increased passenger and freight volumes indicate improved infrastructure and enhanced connectivity.
• Expanding electric vehicles (EV) charging networks supports SDGs 7 and 13 by reducing emissions and enabling sustainable transport.

Rural Access Index

SDG Indicator 9.1.1 measures the proportion of the rural population living within 2 km of an all-season road. Access to such infrastructure is crucial as it enables rural populations to reach essential services and opportunities. This includes access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and jobs. Reliable roads facilitate the movement of goods and people, enhance market access for agricultural products, and improve the overall quality of life by connecting remote areas to urban centres. Ensuring that rural populations have close proximity to all-season roads is key to sustainable development and social equity.

In Europe, the figures are notably high, reflecting robust infrastructure and widespread accessibility, with the lowest percentage recorded at 82 percent (Romania). In contrast, the highest access rate in Central Asia is 81 percent (Uzbekistan). North America, comprising two UNECE countries, demonstrates high accessibility with Canada at 93 percent and the United States at 96 percent. The Caucasus and Western Asia present a more varied range, with access rates spanning from 82 to 97 percent.

Figure 1 Rural access index, 2023

Passenger and Freight Volumes

SDG Indicator 9.1.2 gauges the volumes of passengers and freight transported by different modes of transport, serving as a proxy of regional and international infrastructure advancement. Increases in transport volume often indicate infrastructure enhancements, which bring about socio-economic advantages. High volumes suggest that the infrastructure is effectively supporting the movement of people and goods. Efficient transport systems enhance access to markets, employment, education, and healthcare, fostering economic growth and improving connectivity. By examining these transport volumes, countries can pinpoint infrastructure needs and guide investments toward Sustainable Development Goals.

Until 2019, rail passenger traffic exhibited a steady upward trend, reflecting the growing demand for passenger transport. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant and simultaneous drop in both passenger numbers and passenger-kilometres. While a notable rebound began shortly after the decline, pre-pandemic levels had not yet been reached by 2022, highlighting the ongoing recovery phase of the sector.

Figure 2 Passenger traffic on heavy rail

The trends in freight transport across three different inland transport modes -road, rail, and inland waterway- over a period from 2012 to 2022 in the UNECE region show that road freight remains the dominant mode of transport, with a steady increase in volumes. Rail freight shows a stable trend with slight fluctuations, maintaining a significant share throughout the period. In contrast, inland waterway freight maintains the smallest share and shows a gradual decline over the years, decreasing from 131 billion tonne-kms in 2012 to 109 billion in 2022. This decline suggests challenges in maintaining competitiveness with road and rail.

Figure 3 Freight volumes (millions tonne-kms)

EV Charging Infrastructure

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) represents a critical step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. However, the success of this transition hinges on the availability of robust and accessible EV charging infrastructure to alleviate range anxiety and support the growing number of EV users. Expanding EV charging networks is crucial to achieving SDG targets, particularly SDGs 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).

Recent data highlights significant strides made by UNECE countries in developing EV infrastructure. Figure 4 shows the ratio of recharging station to the population for understanding how accessible these stations are relative to the population. This metric helps gauge whether the infrastructure can meet daily recharging demands of EV users, especially in densely populated areas. Monaco and Switzerland lead with the highest station-to-population ratios, reflecting its dense and accessible EV recharging infrastructure, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. In contrast, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Poland report lower ratios, which may suggest that their recharging infrastructure is still developing. It is important to note that leading countries in EV adoption, like the Netherlands and Norway, are not included in this analysis because they report data on recharging points rather than recharging stations1.

1 A recharging station refers to an individual unit that houses one or more recharging points for EVs. A recharging point is the specific interface where an EV connects for charging.

Figure 4 Ratio of recharging stations to population, 2023