leStrade n. 1956 aprile 2024

“THE UNECE PPP AND INFRASTRUCTURE
EVALUATION AND RATING SYSTEM
(PIERS): A TOOL TO EVALUATE THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF TRANSPORT
PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SDGs”
The UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Evaluation
and Rating System (PIERS) is UNECE’s PPPs
flagship tool in support of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). The PIERS methodology
is a platform designed to evaluate and
score PPP and infrastructure projects based
on their contribution to the SDGs. PIERS assists
governments and private companies in
identifying, developing, and implementing initiatives
that not only create value but also prioritize
the well-being of the planet, with a specific
focus on vulnerable populations. PIERS
incorporates elements such as resilience, sustainability,
and circularity, encompassing five
key desirable outcomes: access and equity;
economic effectiveness and fiscal sustainability;
environmental sustainability and resilience;
replicability; and stakeholder engagement.
The methodology’s integration of resilience,
sustainability, and circularity makes it a
powerful tool for enhancing the sustainability
and attractiveness of PPP and infrastructure
projects to potential investors, including in
the transportation sector. In essence, PIERS
is a pivotal tool in promoting sustainable and
impactful infrastructure development while
championing the global pursuit of the SDGs.
PIERS is available online free of charge.
ITF AT THE OECD: “THE FINANCIAL IM-
PLICATIONS OF DECARBONIZING TRAN-
SPORT”
The latest edition of the ITF Transport Outlook
(2023) showed that the transport sector is
currently not on track to achieve the goals of
the Paris Agreement. However, with an acceleration
of our current ambitions globally, the
transport sector could reduce emissions on
2019 levels by up to 80%. For the first time in
this Outlook we have looked at putting a cost
to the road and rail, port and airport capacity
required to service the demand reflected under
two scenarios – one a business-as-usual
“Current Ambition” and the other, a low carbon
“High Ambition”. We estimate that the investment
needed for core infrastructure capacity
will be roughly 5% lower under the High
Ambition scenario (excluding other costs,
such as adaptation and support infrastructure).
That is why we recommend adopting a
long-term vision-led planning, that allows for
strategically aligned investment decisions
that build towards a vision of how the future
transport system will be, and not feeling
bound to perpetuate the system that is. This
presentation by ITF’s Secretary General will
look more closely at some of the financial impacts
of the low-carbon scenario.
financing, as well as the climate resilience of
road infrastructure and networks are currently
fundamental themes for the road and mobility
sector worldwide. Crucial for its future development,
considering sector’s progressive sustainable
transition in the next years.
The Foresight Session, co-organized by
PIARC/World Road Association’s International
Technical Committee 1.3 - Finance & Procurement
and the International Transport Forum
(ITF) at the OECD, with the participation
of leading international institutions and organizations
involved in the transport, road and
financial sector (UNECE, World Bank Group,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
Asian Development Bank, Climate
Bonds Initiative) and PIARC’s International
T.C. 1.4 - Climate change & Resilience, focussed
on them.
Primary topics related to challenges for the
sector, aligned with the 2030 Agenda of the
U.N. (17 SDGs), the Paris Agreement, etc.
Including goals for the progressive decarbonization
of road infrastructure and networks
and the correct development of carbon-neutral
mobility to reach a comprehensive longterm
sustainability for the road and mobility
sector worldwide, considered different implications
(political, financial, fiscal, social, environmental).
Furthermore, latest international trends in
transport and financial sectors highlight and
link successful sustainable policies and best
practices in funding and financing, including
sustainable finance. Given the need to meet
the SDGs 2030 for the sector finding solutions
to the financial constraints and available public-private
funds for necessary significant investments
in road infrastructure projects and
national networks worldwide.
The Foresight Session addressed these following
topics for the road and mobility sector
at the international level (detailed references
available in speakers’ presentations):
• International trends regarding sustainable
funding and financing in the sector, including
decarbonising road infrastructure and
developing carbon-neutral mobility.
• Innovative sustainable finance schemes
and instruments applied to road sector’s
projects, national networks and mobility.
• Sustainable policies, procurement mechanisms
and PPPs aligned with the U.N. SDGs
2030.
Conclusions: technical findings
The technical findings from the range of presentations
included:
• Critical connection between achieving successful
sustainable policy outcomes for the
sector (i.e. decarbonisation/carbon-neutrality’s
goals, socio-economic benefits, road upgrade,
safety), contemporary increasing the
resilience of road infrastructure and networks
(i.e. mobility systems) to climate change’s
impacts worldwide.
Foto 1: Future demand (2050)
for the international transport
sector (source ITF/OECD).
Foto 2: ITF Transport Outlook
2023 (source ITF/OECD).
Foto 3 e 4: PIARC International
TC 1.3 & TC 1.4 2020-2023
(source PIARC).
• Road infrastructure and mobility investments
assessed for compatibility and alignment
with the SDGs 2030, Paris Agreement’s climate
targets (i.e. 1.5 degree, net-zero 2050
decarbonization pathway) and main frameworks
(e.g. European Green Deal).
• Necessary optimization of the investment
decision making’s efficiency to fund resilience
and decarbonisation. Implementing successful
existing and/or innovative mechanisms
and action plans is pivotal for targeting
and prioritising public-private investments
for road networks. Identifying vulnerable infrastructure,
addressing risks, adopting climate
change adaptation frameworks.
• Design as a tool for resilience; strengthen
resilience for sustainable urban mobility
plans. Enhance and fund preventive maintenance
regimes to preserve road assets,
improving sustainability and safety.
• Significant increasing level of financial resources
needed for the sector. Reforming
traditional public budgets, in line with the
sustainable transition, widening a comprehensive
adoption of integrated alternative
funding schemes for road infrastructure
and networks (e.g. alternative fuels taxation,
user charges as tolls and distance-based
pricing, PPPs, value capture). Primary
role of sustainable finance to support investments.
• Sustainable finance is exponentially rising worldwide
(e.g. ESG bonds, loans, guarantees);
just well-established in developed countries,
relevant opportunities for developing countries.
Regarding the ESG bonds market (i.e.
Infrastrutture&Mobilità
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