Walking: the missing link in transport, health and environment

• Walking, a natural and essential activity often overlooked in transport and mobility planning, is the focus of THE PEP Pan-European Master Plan on Walking, which calls on member States to collaborate nationally and internationally to achieve a shared vision for active and inclusive mobility.

Walking is a universal human activity, deeply woven in the fabric of our lives. It marks a significant milestone in any infant’s development and often becomes the final symbol of independence in one’s later years. Walking is exercising without a gym, a therapy without a prescription, and a mode of transport without fuel or emissions. Requiring no special equipment and naturally adapting to an individual’s pace, ability and fitness level, walking is inherently safe and accessible. As highlighted by the International Charter for Walking (Walk21), “walking is as natural as breathing.” Indeed, everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their day-to-day life.

Walking delivers great benefits for health, well-being and sustainability, making it a cornerstone of modern mobility and public health strategies. It promotes physical and mental health, strengthens social connections and contributes to environmental sustainability. Its simplicity, cost-free nature and universal accessibility make walking an ideal activity for people of all ages to seamlessly integrate physical activity into daily routines.

The Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) promotes the integration of environmental and health considerations into transport and mobility policies. A key focus is on active mobility, including walking, wheeling (mobility aids and wheelchairs) and cycling. In October 2024, member States adopted the Pan-European Master Plan on Walking,18 an initiative to promote walking beyond building pavements—that it is about creating healthier, safer and more inclusive societies. When designed with equity and inclusion at its core, walking initiatives have the power to bridge health disparities, enhance well-being, and ensure that no one is left behind.

18 ECE/AC.21/SC/2024/6−EUCDE2422320/2.1/6

Walking directly supports SDG 3 by ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. It serves as a cost-effective public health intervention, reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases and improving cardiovascular health (target 3.4). According to WHO estimates, physical inactivity causes around one million deaths annually in the European region. Just 30 minutes of walking daily can reduce mortality risk by at least 10 per cent.

Walking also plays a crucial role in reducing air pollution (target 3.9) and emissions of greenhouse gases (target 13.2), significantly contributing to decarbonizing transport systems. Unlike approaches focused solely on electrifying car fleets—which fail to address challenges like road congestion, physical inactivity and space inefficiency—walking provides a holistic solution. It fosters healthier, greener and more vibrant communities, demonstrating its role in sustainable urban development.

Figure 9 Carbon dioxide emissions of modes of transport in grams per kilometre

Despite these benefits, challenges remain. Structural barriers, such as unsafe pedestrian environments, disproportionately affect women, children and persons with disabilities. Alarmingly, pedestrian fatalities account for 23 per cent of global road traffic deaths (target 3.6), with over 450,000 pedestrians killed globally in 2019 alone. Tackling these issues demand investment in a safe and inclusive infrastructure and urban planning that prioritizes walking and ensures equitable access to mobility.

Figure 10 External effects (costs or benefits) of different modes, euro cents per kilometre travelled

Walking also delivers tangible economic and environmental benefits. By reducing healthcare costs through preventing non-communicable diseases, walking further generates substantial savings. Walking is estimated to save €0.17 per km when compared to car travel. For example, Switzerland found that whereas car traffic incurs external costs of €0.074 per km travelled, walking generates a benefit of €0.095 per km (Figure 10).

In response to these challenges, the Pan-European Master Plan on Walking aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, positioning walking as a cornerstone of health-focused mobility systems. The Master Plan urges countries to adopt national walking policies, prioritize pedestrian-friendly urban planning, and ensure equitable access to safe walking environments, embracing a whole-of-society approach. These efforts directly contribute to SDG 3, particularly to target 3.4 (reducing non-communicable diseases) and to 3.6 (halving road traffic injuries and deaths), while embodying the cross-cutting principle of "leaving no one behind."

To fully unlock walking’s potential in advancing SDG 3, governments and stakeholders must adopt a holistic approach. This includes integrating walking into health promotion campaigns, embedding walking into urban planning policies, and incorporating walking into transport systems. A special emphasis on pedestrian safety (target 3.6) is critical, alongside targeted measures to address inequities in access for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Numerous countries, including Austria, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands (the Kingdom of), Norway and Portugal, have already adopted national strategies or plans for walking. Other countries, such as Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia, are actively developing similar strategies.

Walking embodies the spirit of SDG 3: it is simple, universal and transformative. The Pan-European Master Plan on Walking serves as a call to action, urging policymakers to recognize walking as a public health priority. Only by addressing existing challenges and scaling successful initiatives, the region would be able to fully harness walking as a powerful tool for advancing health, well-being and sustainability—benefiting everyone, now and into the future.