Antigua and Barbuda is among the countries receiving support from the United Nations Environment Programme to prepare for the introduction of electric buses, as part of an international effort to improve air quality and reduce emissions from public transport.
UNEP’s Global Electric Mobility Programme and Soot-Free Urban Bus Fleet project provide technical and policy assistance to help participating countries overcome barriers to adopting cleaner bus technologies.
The support includes developing strategies, training personnel, assessing business models and financing arrangements, and helping implement pilot projects.
For Antigua and Barbuda, participation provides access to expertise and tools to assess how electric buses could fit into the country’s transport system, including their potential costs, energy requirements and environmental benefits.
UNEP’s regional support and investment platforms are designed to bring together participating governments, cities, suppliers and financiers. They also offer training, technical assistance and opportunities to share lessons from electric mobility projects elsewhere.
A global working group hosted by UNEP supports the development of electric mobility targets, provides policy advice and facilitates discussions on standards and regulations.
Antigua and Barbuda is listed alongside countries including Costa Rica, Seychelles, Maldives and Nepal as receiving assistance with the introduction of electric buses.
UNEP has also developed an online bus calculator that compares electric buses with other low-emission technologies. The tool allows users to assess energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and costs through 2050, supporting national and city-level cost-benefit analyses.
The wider initiative aims to reduce the pollution and public health burden associated with urban bus fleets, particularly emissions from diesel engines.
UNEP’s programme information does not specify the number of buses planned for Antigua and Barbuda, a funding allocation or an implementation date.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda receiving UNEP support to introduce electric buses.