The Trillion Dollar Question II: Tracking Investment Needs in Transport

The paper analyzes global transport infrastructure requirements, finding that a low-carbon 2°C scenario requires an annual investment of $2 trillion, which is more affordable than a 4°C scenario ($2.3 trillion) and falls within current global investment flows of $1.4 trillion to $2.1 trillion. It argues that achieving this pathway depends on policymakers and development banks shifting investment portfolios toward sustainable transport modes.

• Annual investment needs for transport infrastructure are estimated at $2 trillion to meet a 2-degree scenario and $2.3 trillion for a 4-degree scenario, making the low-carbon pathway more affordable than the business-as-usual approach focused on roads.
• A low-carbon 2-degree scenario is financially feasible because it aligns with current global capital investment in public and private transport, which ranges between $1.4 trillion and $2.1 trillion annually.
• Transitioning to a low-carbon transport sector requires a shift in investment portfolios and policies led by national policymakers—such as finance and transport ministers—and multilateral development banks.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). The Trillion Dollar Question II: Tracking Investment Needs in Transport. https://www.wri.org/research/trillion-dollar-question-ii-tracking-investment-needs-transport

Chicago

World Resources Institute. The Trillion Dollar Question II: Tracking Investment Needs in Transport. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/trillion-dollar-question-ii-tracking-investment-needs-transport.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=The Trillion Dollar Question II: Tracking Investment Needs in Transport |url=https://www.wri.org/research/trillion-dollar-question-ii-tracking-investment-needs-transport |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendtrillion, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{The Trillion Dollar Question II: Tracking Investment Needs in Transport}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/trillion-dollar-question-ii-tracking-investment-needs-transport}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }