2025 Reports

Missing Mobilities: The Popular Transport Gap in Climate Adaptation

Hein Tun, Thet; Klopp, Jacqueline M.; Kharodawala, Husen Ismailbhai; Welle, Benjamin

As climate impacts intensify, so do risks and damage to transportation systems and the people who rely on them, with wide-ranging negative effects on human well-being. In low- and middle-income (LMICs) countries, these extreme events and climate risks are especially concerning for “informal” or popular transport systems. They are often the only kind of transportation service in lower-income communities, many of which are disproportionately affected by climate risks, making this an equity issue. They represent up to 95 percent of motorized trips in sub-Saharan African cities and up to 50% in Latin American cities (Kustar et al., 2023). Yet, these widely used modes of transportation receive little attention in climate adaptation research, planning, and investment at both global and local levels.

This briefing highlights the “missing mobilities” within current climate adaptation work in the transport sector. By “missing mobilities,” we refer to “informal” or popular transport systems that are often overlooked in climate discussions despite their integral role. We use the term “popular transport” throughout this paper (See Box 1 for a detailed discussion around this terminology).

When transportation disruptions happen–whether from flooding, heat-induced infrastructure damage, or wildfires, access to critical services is also disrupted causing ripple effects across society (Markolf et al., 2019). Based on a preliminary scan of policy and research work, we explore: (1) how popular transport and their users are being impacted by climate-driven effects like extreme heat and flooding; (2) the extent to which existing climate action plans and adaptation strategies in seven selected sample cities address vulnerabilities in the sector; and (3) how these modes might also contribute to ongoing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in cities.

This paper is organized into four main sections. The introduction section starts with the conceptual framework by defining terms such as risk, adaptation, mitigation, and popular transport in the context of seven cities: Accra (Ghana), Bangkok (Thailand), Bogotá (Colombia), Cape Town (South Africa), Kumasi (Ghana), Mumbai (India) and San José (Costa Rica). These cities were chosen because of the connections to Urban Living Labs through the Partnership for Research on Informal and Shared Mobility (PRISM) that enabled on the ground insights. Section II presents a literature and policy review examining the gaps in climate policy regarding popular transport with specific attention to heat and flood impacts. Section III provides a scan of local climate action plans across select cities to explore the extent to which popular transport is addressed and, if so, how. Finally, Section IV outlines recommendations and a way forward.