How Sustainable Mobility Can Reshape Our Cities 

Sustainable mobility is driving cleaner transport and fairer cities, reshaping how we move, live, and thrive. 

Giacomo Lozzi is an advisor and researcher dedicated to making cities more liveable and sustainable. Based in Brussels, he works across Europe on policies and projects that support cleaner, smarter urban mobility, from sustainable transport to city logistics. With experience in non-profits, public institutions, and academia, he brings a practical and holistic view to the future of how, and why, we move. 

 
In this interview, we explore what sustainable mobility means, who holds responsibility for change, and how solutions like cargo bikes and EU policy can reshape the way we experience our cities.  

I work as an advisor and researcher on sustainable urban mobility, mainly based in Brussels. I collaborate with various organisations, NGOs, public authorities, and research institutions, to promote more liveable, accessible, and sustainable cities. 

My work covers a range of topics, including sustainable transport, urban logistics, micro-mobility, and EU mobility policies. I’m particularly interested in how we can shift from car-centric urban models to cleaner, more inclusive mobility systems that work for everyone. 

That’s a great question. Often, people think of sustainable mobility simply as reducing carbon emissions, and while that’s certainly part of it, it’s much broader. 

Mobility is ultimately about accessibility: giving people the ability to reach opportunities, services, and connections that improve their lives. So, when we talk about sustainable mobility, we’re talking about how to provide that accessibility in ways that are environmentally friendly, socially equitable, and economically viable. 

When we talk about sustainable mobility, we’re talking about how to provide accessibility in ways that are environmentally friendly, socially equitable, and economically viable. 

For a solution to be truly sustainable, it must meet all three dimensions: it must reduce environmental impact, be affordable and accessible to all, and make economic sense. If a measure is green but excludes low-income groups, or is too costly to scale, it’s not truly sustainable. 

Frankly, no. Road transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in cities, transport accounts for roughly one-quarter of total emissions. What’s more worrying is that transport-related emissions are still rising, despite the measures we’ve seen in recent years. 

Road transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in cities, transport accounts for roughly one-quarter of total emissions.

So, addressing transport is essential to tackling the climate crisis. We’ve seen some promising trends, for example, shifts towards shared mobility, growing interest in micro-mobility, more electric vehicles, and the development of smarter, data-driven transport systems. 

But many of these solutions are still niche. Until they become truly mainstream, across cities of all sizes, we won’t see the scale of change needed. Smaller cities, which make up much of Europe, often lack the resources or capacity to lead these transitions. That’s a gap we urgently need to address. 

That is a tricky question. It’s a shared responsibility, everyone has a role to play, at different levels. 

First, we need to make sustainable transport options available and affordable. People can’t choose greener options if they don’t exist, or if they are too expensive. Accessibility, affordability, and availability are the three pillars we must prioritise. 

At the EU level, regulations such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation require member states to ensure adequate charging infrastructure. National governments decide how this is rolled out, while local authorities play a key role in implementation, for example, by determining where charging points are installed. 

Individuals also have a role, but only when empowered with real choices. We shouldn’t expect people to bear the burden of transition alone, especially if they lack access to sustainable options. The system must support and enable greener choices. 

We shouldn’t expect people to bear the burden of transition alone, especially if they lack access to sustainable options. The system must support and enable greener choices.

Yes, cargo bikes are a fascinating and promising solution. I worked on a project in the Brussels region, called cAIRgo Bike co-funded by the European Commission, to promote their use for family and professional trips. 

Individuals also have a role, but only when empowered with real choices. We shouldn’t expect people to bear the burden of transition alone, especially if they lack access to sustainable options. The system must support and enable greener choices.

In Brussels, for example, half of households don’t own a car. But among families with at least one child, car ownership rises to 90%. That’s where cargo bikes can make a difference, offering a practical alternative for transporting children, groceries, or goods. 

Of course, there are barriers, cost, theft, lack of parking, and cultural perceptions of cars as safer or more familiar. The project focused on addressing these challenges and promoting cargo bikes as a convenient option, not just because they’re green, but because they can be faster and more practical in dense urban environments. 

We’re seeing growing interest in this space. While cargo bikes won’t replace cars for every purpose, they can play a major role in reducing car dependency, particularly for short trips and urban deliveries. 

This is a key concern. Too often, the social dimension of sustainability is overlooked, but without it, the transition won’t succeed. We must avoid deepening social divides. 

One important tool is the EU’s Social Climate Fund, which supports vulnerable groups in the mobility and energy sectors. For example, on-demand transport services in rural Spain, or social leasing schemes for electric vehicles in France, are ways of making sustainable options accessible to lower-income households. 

These measures need to be carefully designed and targeted, and that requires good data, inclusive policy-making, and strong local engagement. We must also address cultural barriers and ensure people are part of the decision-making process, not just passive recipients of policies. 

Transport is a shared responsibility within the EU. The European level plays a catalytic role, providing regulatory frameworks, funding, and innovation support, but urban mobility policy remains largely in the hands of local and national authorities. 

That said, the EU is taking important steps. For example, under a recent revision, metropolitan areas across the EU are required to adopt Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans by 2027. Regulations on alternative fuel infrastructure aim to boost electric vehicle charging capacity. The Intelligent Transport Systems Directive supports digitalisation and system integration. And the Social Climate Fund, which I mentioned earlier, will also play a key role. 

There are many moving pieces, not all directly targeting urban mobility, but with clear implications for how we move, including the EU-funded projects.