31 March 2026 | Paris, France – International Road Federation (IRF) Research and Data Analyst Aristomenis Kopsacheilis participated in the 12th Statistics Meeting hosted by the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The meeting brought together leading international organisations to exchange updates and explore new initiatives shaping the future of transport data, statistical frameworks and evidence-based policymaking.

At the center of IRF’s contribution was a discussion on how better data can unlock smarter, more sustainable transport systems. Aristomenis Kopsacheilis highlighted the critical role of the IRF’s World Road Statistics (WRS) and its evolving Data Warehouse platform in addressing one of the sector’s biggest challenges: turning fragmented, outdated national datasets into reliable, actionable global insights.

Transforming Data into Policy Intelligence

The IRF’s World Road Statistics, published annually since 1964, represents one of the most comprehensive global repositories of road and transport data. Covering over 200 countries and territories and more than 200 indicators, the WRS compiles information from primary national sources such as ministries, road authorities and statistical offices. Through a rigorous methodology which includes standardised definitions, multi-source validation and reconciliation of units, IRF ensures that the data is both accurate and internationally comparable.

Aristomenis emphasised that this process is not just technical but is foundational to effective policymaking. Without harmoniaed data, governments and institutions struggle to identify trends, measure progress or design targeted interventions.

The Data Warehouse: From Static Reports to Dynamic Insights

Building on the WRS, the IRF’s Data Warehouse introduces a new dimension: interactivity and real-time usability. The platform integrates IRF datasets with additional external sources and presents them through dynamic dashboards, enabling users to visualise patterns across countries and regions instantly.

This transformation from static reporting to interactive analytics allows stakeholders which includes governments, development banks and mobility organisations to:

• Pinpoint where transport-related emissions originate
• Identify persistent data gaps and inconsistencies
• Compare performance across regions
• Evaluate the effectiveness of policy interventions over time

By making complex datasets accessible and visually intuitive, the platform empowers decision-makers to move from observation to action more efficiently.

Addressing Emissions and Decarbonisation

A key theme of the presentation was the relationship between transport growth and emissions. Drawing on WRS data, Aristomenis illustrated the “double edge” of road transport dominance: while it supports economic development and connectivity, it also remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

The analysis underscored the importance of “decoupling mobility from emissions” – a central objective for achieving sustainable transport systems. Through data-driven insights, the IRF helps stakeholders identify which policy levers offer the greatest long-term impact. These may include infrastructure investment, vehicle efficiency improvements or modal shifts.

The presentation also highlighted a critical barrier: uneven data availability. Significant disparities persist between countries in terms of data quality, coverage and reporting frequency. These gaps can obscure the true scale of challenges and limit the effectiveness of global comparisons.

From Data Gaps to Data Partnerships

To address the challenges presented, IRF is actively fostering partnerships and encouraging greater participation in its data initiatives. By expanding collaboration with national authorities and international organisations, the goal is to improve data completeness, consistency, and timeliness.

Aristomenis highligted that better data is not an end in itself but is a tool for building more resilient, inclusive and decarbonised mobility systems. Reliable statistics enable agencies to detect emerging trends, prioritise investments and design policies that are both targeted and measurable.

Broader Themes from the ITF Meeting

Beyond the IRF presentation, the ITF Statistics Meeting explored several forward-looking themes shaping the future of transport data. These included the role of artificial intelligence in official statistics, innovations in data collection methods and strategies for strengthening the resilience of transport systems in the face of global disruptions.

Together, these discussions reinforced a common message: as transport systems become more complex and interconnected, the need for high-quality, interoperable data becomes ever more critical.

A Data-Driven Path Forward

The IRF’s contribution to the meeting highlighted a clear direction for the sector. By transforming fragmented datasets into coherent, verified, and globally comparable insights, the organization is helping bridge the gap between data and decision-making.

In an era defined by climate urgency and rapid technological change, such efforts are essential. With tools like the World Road Statistics and the Data Warehouse, IRF is not only advancing the quality of transport data—but also enabling the policies and investments needed to build a more sustainable mobility future.