About UEMI
Leading in Sustainable Urban Mobility
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The Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) is a global movement driving the transition to cleaner, more livable cities through electric transportation solutions. Launched by UN-Habitat in 2014, UEMI brings together industry leaders, governments, and cities to achieve a shared vision:
Vision
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30% electric vehicles
in cities by 2030
How We Work
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Transportation is a major source of air pollution, particularly in cities. Electric vehicles offer a cleaner alternative, improving public health and reducing premature deaths.
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Sustainable urban development: Electric mobility is integrated with improved urban planning, prioritizing people-centered design and public spaces.
Economic growth: The electric mobility industry creates new jobs and stimulates low-carbon economic development.
Industry and city commitments: Manufacturers, energy providers, and city governments pledge to increase electric vehicle adoption.
Capacity Building: UEMI facilitates knowledge exchange and best practices to accelerate the global shift to electric mobility.
Partnerships: UEMI partners with cities, industries, small businesses, and research institutions to develop innovative electric mobility solutions. Over 100 partners collaborate on real-world projects.
Fellowships: UEMI provides Fellowship opportunities for junior and senior researcher as well as students writing their Master Thesis or pursuing their PhD.
Projects: UEMI acts as resource centre and provides opportunities for direct collaboration on projects focusing on sustainable urban mobility and the role e-mobility can play in it.
Expert Pool: UEMIs pools expertise, facilitate exchange and initiate implementation oriented actions.
Mobility Hub of the Urban Living Lab Center (ULLC)
The Mobility Hub of the Urban Living Lab Center hosted by UEMI
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The Urban Living Lab Center is co-hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Technical University Berlin (TUB) and the Wuppertal Institute, building on the collaboration with UN-Habitat. The objective is to build on a range of joint projects and providing the platform for other actors and projects in the field to broaden and sustain the programme.
The network of Labs and Hubs is meant to support the implementation of action-oriented urban development projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, boost synergies and minimise duplications. The founding group acts as initial driver of the partnership and provides resources to the development and coordination of the partnership. The intention is that during the course of the programme activities are integrated in the on-going academic and capacity building work of all partners.
What we do​
The Urban Living Lab Center provides a space for collaboration among implementation oriented projects in the field of urban climate action.
The objective is to build on a range of joint projects and providing the platform for other actors and projects in the field to broaden and sustain the programme. The network of Hubs is meant to support the implementation of action-oriented urban development projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, boost synergies and minimise duplications.
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Who we are​
Our dedicated professionals are at the forefront of implementing and demonstrating innovative living lab solutions that drive positive change in urban environments. We are committed to education, equipping individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to create a sustainable future. Additionally, we offer transformative opportunities through the Urban Living Lab Center Fellowship Programme, fostering collaboration and innovation in pursuit of urban sustainability.
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Education​
We are proud of our vibrant consortium of 22 prestigious universities from across the globe. Each of these institutions is actively involved in creating extensive educational content for our core subjects. These universities have a central role in advancing the frontier of knowledge through groundbreaking theses and case studies that enhance our comprehension of urban living and sustainable solutions.
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Living Labs​
The Urban Living Lab Center stands out by its dedication to harmonize and exchange various projects. This cooperative method leads to the formation of interdisciplinary knowledge resources, guaranteeing that the experiences gained from one endeavor can enhance and benefit others. By enabling this intermingling of ideas and experiences, the center is propelling urban innovation to unprecedented levels, paving the way for a more vibrant and sustainable future for cities across the globe.
WE Drive Change
Women Initiative
The WE Drive Change Women Intiative hosted by UEMI
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At WE DRIVE CHANGE, we strive to empower women through education, employment opportunities, partnerships and advocacy in e-mobility.
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We aim to drive the transition to sustainable, inclusive, and gender-equitable mobility solutions, fostering collaborations with government, universities, NGOs, and the private sector to create accessible and clean transportation systems that empower women and promote global climate action.
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Why Electric Mobility Matters for Women
Imagine a future where electric vehicles hum through city streets, carrying not just passengers, but progress itself. At WE DRIVE CHANGE, we see this future, and we believe a critical force will drive it forward: women.
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For too long, women have faced significant challenges in traditional transportation. Safety concerns, limited opportunities, and underrepresentation in the workforce have restricted their mobility and economic potential. But electric mobility presents a game-changer. EVs offer a quieter, cleaner, and safer transportation experience, revolutionizing how women navigate urban spaces.
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Electric mobility stands at the forefront of a transportation revolution, holding immense promise for improving the lives of women around the world. In many societies, women face disproportionate challenges when accessing safe, affordable, and reliable transportation options. Limited mobility can hinder women's economic participation, restrict access to essential services, and exacerbate social inequalities.
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However, electric mobility offers a transformative solution—a pathway to more accessible, inclusive, and empowering transportation systems. EVs provide quieter, cleaner, and safer modes of transport, enhancing the overall mobility experience for women. Additionally, the growth of the electric mobility sector opens up new avenues for women's economic empowerment, from employment opportunities in EV-related industries to entrepreneurship in sustainable transportation solutions.
Partnerships
UEMI as an open forum for knowledge transfer and support
With commitments from industry and government, UEMI functions as an open forum for knowledge transfer and support for the take-up of e-mobility solutions around the world. It initiates a process of dialogue and continue to gather commitments from local and national governments as well as businesses on e-mobility targets. The Action Platform has been established with a work programme setting out voluntary international, national and city targets on e-mobility such as the global market share of electric vehicles and total number of passenger kilometres travelled on e-vehicles. While these targets will be voluntary in nature, a global monitoring system will be developed to track progress on implementation.
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Based on the Memorandum of Understanding with UN-Habitat, the UEMI secretariat works on the development of national action plans for low-carbon urban development and local implementation concepts to deliver on the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Agreement (www.urban-pathways.org). This will support national and local action and international dialogues linked to the UNFCCC and Habitat III processes. To assess the gap between current climate change mitigation actions and efforts required for a 1.5 Degree Stabilisation Pathway national and city-level decarbonisation pathways are being developed by the UEMI in close cooperation with a network of partners from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. ​​