River Electromobility and Its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

At a global level, there is interest in the decarbonization of river transportation, as it belongs to one of the economic sectors with the highest energy consumption and a high percentage of emissions, contributing to more than seventy-five percent (75%) of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), with a greater impact than road transport, and the consequences are evident within the complex context of climate change. The objective of the study was to analyze actions taken by 17 countries related to the intervention of river transportation with zero/low emission technologies and their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The implemented actions were categorized in Canada, USA, Germany, Australia, Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina, Norway, France, Spain, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, and Colombia. The study found that the most significant actions to address climate change and energy efficiency challenges in river transportation are associated with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in each country and the integration of measures with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, with river electromobility being highlighted as one of the best alternatives due to its efficiency, environmental performance, and its contribution to achieving the SDGs.