The transportation sector—driven by China's large automotive market and rapid expansion of aviation, rail, and waterway networks—is a major source of air pollution and carbon emissions. These emissions affect urban air quality, public health, and progress toward global climate goals. Full electrification of transportation offers a pathway to address both air pollution and climate challenges, but achieving it will require new regulations and standards, improved monitoring tools, and supporting policies, along with stronger implementation and enforcement across both road and non-road transport sources.

The Transportation Program focuses on research, analysis, and education to inform the development and implementation of emissions and fuel economy standards, as well as associated fiscal and financial incentive policies at national and subnational levels. Through these efforts, the program examines pathways toward advanced, efficient, and structurally optimized clean transportation systems in China, supporting improvements in air quality and long-term emissions reduction.