Six months after its launch at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024, the Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility remains a promising framework requiring broadened commitment and collaboration for its implementation.

 

In October 2024, the Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility was officially launched at the inaugural Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC). Developed under the leadership of the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), and a core group of international organisations and city governments supporting sustainable transport the Charter calls for a global shift toward more equitable, sustainable, and accessible transport systems.

Signed by 23 organizations and cities, including Hamburg, Germany, Malmö, Sweden Tirana, Albania, the World Bank, the Charter emphasizes the social dimension of the mobility transition—highlighting climate action, gender equity, safety, and access as central components of future-ready transport systems.

 

It specifically sets out eight key principles:

 

  • Equitable and Climate-Friendly Access to Opportunities
  • Inclusivity in Transport
  • Fair and Dignified Jobs
  • Climate-Friendly Mobility Industries and Businesses:
  • Accessible and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure:
  • Empowered and Integrated Popular Transport
  • Promotion of Electric Mobility
  • Data, Transparency and Planning

 

These principles reflect a growing recognition that sustainable transport must go beyond carbon reduction to include inclusive urban planning, worker rights, and access for all.

 

Early Steps and Outreach

Since the signing, the Charter has been referenced by TUMI and partners at key events such at World Urban Forum 2024, COP29 and international discussions, and partners are continuing efforts to bring it into policy dialogues and collaborative planning. A major part of this outreach has been the launch of an 11-part digital storytelling campaign:

 

“From Vision to Action: Embracing Just and Inclusive Mobility with the Hamburg Charter”

This campaign introduces the principles of the Charter and shares voices from across the mobility sector. So far, the digital reach has been modest but meaningful:

  •  750+ Instagram accounts reached
  •  1,500+ LinkedIn impressions
  • 3,000+ newsletter views

While these numbers show early engagement, they also reflect the need for broader communication efforts and clearer commitments from both current and potential signatories.

 

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

The Charter is expected to feature in several important mobility and development forums throughout 2025, including:

  • International Transport Forum (Leipzig, May)
  • Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2025 (June)
  • UITP Summit (Hamburg, June)

 

At HSC 2025, a session titled “Shaping Cities of the Future: Social Innovation for Mobility and Circularity” will, among other things, reflect on the principles of the Hamburg Charter. While it won’t focus on the Charter in detail, the session will maintain a thematic link by addressing broader issues of inclusive urban development and mobility. This offers a modest opportunity to keep the Charter’s ideas in circulation within wider global discussions.

 

Next Steps: Building a Community of Practice

To support long-term relevance, plans are underway to evolve the Charter’s digital presence into a knowledge hub. This online space will include:

  • Best practices and case studies from signatories
  • A library of key publications
  • Event announcements and recaps
  • A forum for dialogue among policymakers, transport providers, civil society, and academia

 

Organizations are invited to contribute content to the website and are encouraged to reach out to their networks to identify new potential signatories. Input and materials are welcomed until January 15, 2026.

 

In addition, under the BMZ, and EU co-funded global project TUMI – Just Mobility, GIZ will continue to use the Hamburg Charter and its principles as foundation for selected project activities and upcoming publications.

 

Get Involved. Sign the Hamburg Charter.

Cities, organizations, and stakeholders are encouraged to endorse the Charter, join events, and collaborate on shaping the next era of mobility—one that puts people, equity, and the planet at its core.

For more information, to share your work, or to get involved in upcoming events, contact:

marvin.stolz@giz.de

Explore the Charter and updates: Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility

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