New POLIS policy paper sees Social Climate Fund as a key tool to fighting transport poverty
POLIS has published a groundbreaking policy paper on the Social Climate Fund (SCF), offering a clear roadmap for EU Member States to combat transport poverty.
Transport poverty remains a pressing challenge across Europe, affecting millions who struggle to access essential services, employment, and opportunities due to inadequate or unaffordable mobility options.
The Social Climate Fund, introduced by the European Union, presents a unique opportunity to address these structural challenges and implement meaningful solutions that promote sustainable, equitable, and inclusive transport systems—or that is what we believe at POLIS.
With strategic recommendations on boosting public transport, shared mobility, and active travel, our latest policy paper ‘Fighting Transport Poverty with the Social Climate Fund’ is a must-read for policymakers aiming to create a just and sustainable mobility future.
Local action for lasting impact
For the SCF to be effective, Member States must develop national plans that work at the local and regional levels. Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in implementing solutions tailored to their communities. To support them, POLIS has developed key recommendations to help decision-makers define transport poverty, identify effective solutions, and ensure cities and regions are fully involved.
Karen Vancluysen, POLIS Secretary General, emphasises:
‘Our network brings together more than 120 local and regional governments with a simple but essential mission: finding and implementing real solutions, for real problems, affecting real people, to build a real future. […] The Social Climate Fund can be a precious step in the right direction—but only if that direction is taken decisively, and if the following steps are well aligned. Otherwise, we will stumble.’
