Walk21 LAC: Growing Impact in Latin America and the Caribbean

Walking and cycling are essential strategies for promoting sustainable urban development, reducing carbon emissions, improving road safety, encouraging physical activity, and promoting gender equality and equitable access to public spaces and transport. However, in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the potential for national and local governments to integrate walking into their policies has yet to be explored.

In 2023, the Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH), conducted a global review of national climate policies related to walking and cycling in 197 UNFCCC member countries. This work was led by Walk21. The team found that while two-thirds of countries have some form of active travel policy, the level of ambition, action and investment remains insufficient.

Building on this momentum, in 2025, Walk21 and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the FIA Foundation, will apply a similar policy review methodology in LAC. The project will analyse national policies in 33 countries and examine their connection to walking and cycling, with a gender and inclusion perspective.

The project has four objectives:

• Build a network of key players in the promotion of walking and cycling.
• Explore how national policies across the region are using walking and cycling as strategies to make progress on health, climate and equity goals.
• Establish a baseline for walking and cycling in LAC and develop 13 case studies.
• Use the lessons learned to develop a report and training sessions.

The 33 countries that will be part of the study include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Through this work, we hope to inspire a coordinated community of national and local governments to promote walking and cycling as strategies to achieve broader transportation, climate, health and gender equity goals, with the ultimate goal of improving conditions for all those who walk and cycle in the region.

Stay tuned for updates and news on the project. #Walk21LAC