Developing nations, with 80% of the global population, face the harshest impacts of climate change and resource scarcity—and hold the greatest potential for transformational responses. They can transition to zero-emission two-wheelers, buses, trucks and cars in ways that drastically reduce local air pollution and save money for individuals, companies, and their economies. Further, by investmenting in the safe extraction of critical minerals and the establishment of sustainable supply chains, they can contribute to a cleaner future both domestically and globally.
These countries need coordinated, large-scale clean energy and transportation solutions as they balance economic growth with pressing environmental and social priorities.
The Global South Center at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis) is responding to these challenges and opportunities in ways no other organization can. ITS-Davis is the world’s premier university center for sustainable transportation, hosting the U.S. National Center for Sustainable Transportation and the U.S. National Climate Change and Transportation Research Initiative, as well as sustainable transportation centers in Europe, India and China. We drive global change at the intersection of science, policy and diplomacy.
The launching of the ITS-Davis Global South Center builds on the huge success of our India program, launched in 2022, which opened doors to new countries. The center builds strategic relationships with state and national governments, NGOs and industry partners across the Global South to support decisions grounded in science and sustainability. Today, we are accelerating transportation and energy transitions in the world’s most complex markets—through ongoing collaborations in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, Mexico, Australia and China, and new projects in Global South regional powers like Chile, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.