November 20, 2024. COMSATS successfully hosted a high-impact panel discussion titled “Decarbonizing Road Transport: Innovations and Policies for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Technologies” at the UNFCCC’s 29th Conference of Parties (COP29). The event was held at the pavilion of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), with notable collaboration from the Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF), COMSATS’ Centre of Excellence in Türkiye – TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye), and the Food Security and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE) in Pakistan.
The panel addressed the pressing need to transform the transport sector, which remains a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, focusing on technological innovation, policy frameworks, and equitable adoption pathways for electric and hydrogen vehicle technologies.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. M. Nafees Zakaria, underscored the historical roots of climate change, citing the Industrial Revolution, the Green Revolution, world wars, and advances in transportation as pivotal moments that contributed to the current state of environmental degradation. He emphasized that the decarbonization of road transport is not just a technological endeavor but also a socio-economic and health related challenge.
“Millions of individuals in developing countries face affordability barriers in transitioning to cleaner vehicles,” Dr. Zakaria noted. “Addressing this inequity is vital to ensure the widespread adoption of sustainable transport solutions.” He also called for stronger international oversight, proposing that organizations like the UNFCCC mandate annual reporting on member states’ progress in decarbonizing their transport sectors.
The technical session, moderated by Dr. Fahman from ICESCO, featured distinguished experts: Dr. Gizem Çakmak, Chief Researcher at TÜBİTAK; Eng. Khalid Salmi, Sustainable Energy Management Expert at RCREEE; and Eng. Khalil Raza, Sustainable energy professional & Programs Manager at ECO Science Foundation.
Panelists discussed critical topics, including: the role of regulatory frameworks in reducing transport sector GHG emissions; financial mechanisms to foster the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in developing countries, and the potential of green hydrogen as a transformative energy source.
Eng. Salmi highlighted the economic potential of green hydrogen production in Africa, particularly in countries like Morocco and Namibia, and the need for developing nations to leverage domestic technologies to remain competitive. Dr. Çakmak addressed the persistent barriers to EV and hydrogen technology adoption, including infrastructure gaps, high costs, and limited technical expertise.
Engr. Raza called for robust policy frameworks and capacity-building initiatives. In his closing remarks, Professor Syed Komail Tayebi, President of ECOSF, emphasized that many developing nations lack the technological and financial resources to produce EVs locally, making them reliant on costly imports. “Collaboration between governments, international organizations, and private stakeholders is essential to overcome these challenges,” he stated.
Dr. Zakaria reiterated COMSATS’ commitment to supporting its 27 member states and 25 Centres of Excellence in advancing EV and hydrogen vehicle technologies. “COMSATS is ready to play a leading role in this global transition, combining our expertise and resources to decarbonize the transport sector,” he concluded.
