Strategic Engagements

2026

• In May 2026, the center's director Aditya Ramji represented the California Africa Climate and Economic Partnership at the France Kenya Africa Forward Summit that brought together over 15 heads of state from Africa. He highlighted key compacts that can deliver the green industrialization outcomes from electric mobility to batteries, critical minerals, and energy security.

• In April 2026, at the ASEAN Energy Transition Minerals Demand–Supply Assessment Roundtable in Jakarta, researchers Sarah Khan and Shivani presented findings from an assessment on ASEAN’s clean energy targets to minerals demand for solar PV and batteries for energy storage & electric mobility, and implications for regional supply, trade, manufacturing, & circularity—also informing discussions on strengthening regional value chains under AMCAP 2026–2030. 

• In April 2026, the center co-hosted the second California–Africa Climate & Economic Forum—that brought together high-level leaders from government, along with industry, and civil society champions from California and Africa. The high-level convening explored transport decarbonization, climate-smart agriculture, and community resiliency— exploring pathways to address shared challenges and identify practical solutions.

• In March 2026, Francisco Pares participated in the Logistics World Summit & Expo in Mexico City, where it presented findings from a collaborative research project on the electrification potential of light commercial vehicle (LCV) fleets in Mexico, conducted with Tecnológico de Monterrey and B2B Latam. The session facilitated dialogue with industry stakeholders and helped ground ongoing research in operational realities, while identifying priority areas for policy and business model innovation to accelerate fleet electrification.

• In March 2026, the center organized and contributed to the Transforming Transportation 2026 session on “Closing the Loop: Strategies for End-of-Life Battery Management in Emerging Markets.” The session introduced our ongoing work to develop a practical policy roadmap for end-of-life (EOL) electric vehicle batteries in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), combining analytical insights with stakeholder engagement. Representatives from international organizations, academia, and civil society examined emerging challenges associated with used vehicle flows and battery circularity.

• In February, the center represented by Dr. Sarah Khan, participated in a convening on sub-national policies and business actions for zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in India at Mumbai Climate Week. The convening included presentation on key insights from the State Model Policy Framework developed by Climate Group and the Global South Centre, drawing on global best practices to inform faster ZET adoption by states. 

• In February 2026, the center represented by Dr. Aakansha Jain participated at the launch of Kenya’s National E-Mobility Policy in Nairobi, Kenya. The policy, approved by the President of Kenya, marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to as well as transition toward sustainable transportation. In his remarks on behalf of the President, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Mr. Chirchir, explicitly acknowledged key partners, including ITS-Davis, for their contributions to the development and implementation of the policy.

• In January 2026, the team at the Global South Center led by Dr. Aditya Ramji, engaged in multiple stakeholder discussions in India to strengthen and further build partnerships with government and industry stakeholders in New Delhi, India, including NITI Aayog, leading automotive manufacturers and research partners.

2025

• In December 2025, Dr Aditya Ramji was invited to speak at the STS Forum hosted by the Ministry of Economia, Government of Mexico. He highlighted the importance of market certainty as the most important foundation for the e-mobility transition. He further stated that policy and regulatory measures such as fuel efficiency regulations or EV sales requirements are the winning policy choices with the maximum impact on market creation.

• In December 2025, as part of the year-long World Bank Academy "Accelerating Urban E-Mobility Solutions” training program, the Global South Center participated in the third in-person training session in Dakar, Senegal where Roland Hwang and Jason Hill led a training session on planning for electric bus charging infrastructure. The Global South Center, serves as the program's lead knowledge partner, connecting the center and ITS's world leading knowledge to policymakers across the Global South, supporting their development of national policies and investment strategies that drive the uptake of electric buses and charging infrastructure.

• In December 2025, Dr. Francisco Pares attended the VI Festival Internacional de Cine Animal y Ambiental (FICAA) in Mexico City, where the film was awarded Best Environmental Short Documentary. Created in collaboration with Jatay Films and grounded in Francisco’s research at UC Davis, the documentary brings forward the voices of mechanics, importers, and workers who shape the informal vehicle economy—highlighting the environmental justice, circularity, and battery-waste implications that the Center seeks to address through policy and research.

• In November 2025, the Center, represented by Anannya Das Banerjee participated in a week-long South-South intergovernmental dialogue on "Unlocking equitable mineral value addition" in Bali, Indonesia. The dialogue hosted by NRGI, National Economic Council of Indonesia and Viriya ENB saw participation from key officials from 20 countries in the Global South. She highlighted on the value of trade, partnership and role of intergovernmental forums in ensuring collective responsibility in equitable value addition during the 'Policy and Geopolitics' roundtable.  The center also moderated a key conversation on navigating domestic policy and aligning value chain with downstream industrial growth strategies in the global south countries.

• In November 2025, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May led a delegation to Kenya this week to advance a landmark partnership between the State of California and the Government of Kenya focused on climate action, clean transportation, climate smart agriculture, public health and innovation. The delegation included Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies Professor Alissa Kendall and Director of the Global South Centre for Clean Transportation Dr. Aditya Ramji. A key outcome of the delegation was advancing plans for Africa’s first Center of Excellence for Sustainable Transport, to be based in Nairobi and led by the UC Davis Global South Center for Clean Transportation. The Center will develop research, training, and technical guidance tailored to African contexts, supporting governments as they design climate-resilient and low-carbon transportation systems.

• In October 2025, the center hosted a delegation of high-level World Bank leadership and government officials of Global South countries in Davis, California. The workshop focused on deepening knowledge and advancing country capstone projects, moving from concepts to practical design and implementation. Key thematic deep dives included supply-side regulatory frameworks and battery end-of-life management. Participants also got an opportunity to visit Caltrans, PG&E, ZUM, and RePurpose Energy facilities.

• In September 2025, the center in partnership with University of California’s Alianza MX, successfully convened the kick-off event for the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Binational Working Group at La Casa de la Universidad de California in Mexico City. This pivotal gathering brought together government representatives, industry leaders, and academics from both Mexico and California to discuss a joint research agenda on the transition to sustainable transportation. The launch of the working group builds on the Letter of Intent to Collaborate between the center and Alianza MX and Mexico’s Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), with a shared mission to ensure that rigorous research directly informs and aligns policy on ZEVs across the region.

• In August 2025, ITS-Davis (lead by the Global South center) lead a California delegation to Kenya and Nigeria to advance climate action, trade, and university partnerships, where they announced the launch of the Africa Clean Transportation (ACT) Initiative in a meeting with H.E. President William Ruto of Kenya. The ACT Initiative will be headquartered in Nairobi and will establish the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Transportation and Energy for Africa, the first initiative of its kind on the continent.

• In May 2025, the center hosted university representatives, and policy makers from 10 Global South countries for a 3-day workshop on ‘Designing Supply Side Regulations for Advancing Vehicle Electrification’. The workshop was aimed to help build technical capacity in the countries to adopt robust policy frameworks that can unlock the potential environmental, fiscal and industrial policy benefits of a clean transportation transition.

• In April 2025, as part of SF Climate Week 2025, ITS-Davis (lead by the Global South center) joined with the California State Transportation Agency and the Bay Area Council to host a forum focused on deepening collaboration between California and Africa. With a spotlight on transportation decarbonization, this forum focused on areas of shared interest ripe for policy sharing, academic exchange, investment, and trade. The forum brought together leaders from Kenya, Nigeria, the State of California, and ITS-Davis to uplift and explore future pathways for sustained and meaningful climate and economic engagement. Participants included UC Davis Chancellor May, California Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis, California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, and San Francisco Mayor Lurie.

• In April 2025, The India ZEV Research Center hosted the webinar ‘Roadmap for ZET adoption in Telangana’ present findings from the research publication on ZET adoption in the Indian state of Telangana followed by a panel discussion with representatives from Telangana state government, OEM, fleet operator and shipper.

• In January 2025, the Global South Center for Clean Transportation at ITS Davis hosted an inter-ministerial senior delegation from the Government of Mexico, with strategic engagements in Washington DC and California. The purpose of this visit was to enhance US-Mexico bilateral cooperation and identify key areas of mutual interest including zero-emission vehicle transitions, infrastructure, public transit, industrial policy, and strengthening sub-national cooperation. The delegation met with key stakeholders from national and sub-national governments, research organizations, and industry leaders.

• In December, 2024 the Global South Centre Director Aditya Ramji joined a trip led by the Secretary to Nigeria and Kenya. The Global South Center has been working with California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin on the California-Africa Climate and Economic Partnership, which is focused on clean transportation and energy. Following the the California-Africa Climate and Economic Forum in San Francisco, ITS-Davis hosted a delegation of ambassadors and transportation officials from Kenya and Nigeria to discuss how new research can deepen the ties between California and Africa.