The group will be led by Olof Persson, CEO of the Volvo Group, and Carolina Tohá, the mayor of Santiago, Chile.

Absent major changes in policy, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are predicted to increase by nearly 50% by 2030 over what they were at the end of 2009. Most of that will be caused by a projected surge in the number of vehicles around the world.

Appointed for a three-year term, the 12 members of the High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport are to make recommendations for action at global, national, local and sector levels. The group will work with governments, transport providers (aviation, marine, ferry, rail, road, and urban public transport), private businesses, financial institutions, civil society and other stakeholders.

The advisory group was formed in response to a call by stakeholders in a variety of fields for a more strategic approach to transport and infrastructure-related issues.

The group is expected to meet for the first time in the coming months and will submit a progress report to the Secretary-General in the second half of next year.