Why is this important?
According to the 6th IPCC assessment report, the road transport sector in was responsible for 15% of global energy-related CO2e emissions, or 6.09 GtCO2e in 2019. (1) In particular, vehicles account for 75% of emissions related to passenger transport. (2) International aid organisations manage large fleets, including heavy, fuel-consuming 4-wheel drive vehicles, to safely travel to remote, hard-to-reach sites and transport staff, patients, and sometimes goods or equipment.
What's the solution?
The 6th IPCC report recommends the ASI (Avoid-Shift-Improve) approach to reduce CO2 emissions from an organisation’s fleet. (3) One should first avoid unnecessary fleet movements through optimised fleet management (analysing fleet movements, optimising occupancy, adapting the fleet, etc.) and use strategies such as carpooling or online meetings. Maintaining existing vehicles to extend their lifespan instead of purchasing new ones is another viable option. The shift approach encourages the use of less polluting transport modes such as public transport or soft mobility options like bicycles and electric bikes. Lastly, the improve approach involves tailoring the fleet to local conditions by using lighter, less polluting, or low-emission vehicles (like electric vehicles and biofuels) and implementing eco-driving training programmes.
Key actions
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#1 Monitor and analyse needs
Carry out a diagnosis, check consumption, mileage, occupancy of vehicles (usual number of passengers). Analyse the needs and opportunities for fleet reduction, or adaptation. Develop a management plan for the fleet of vehicles (4×4 but also trucks, boats, motorcycles, etc.).
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#2 Optimise and pool movements
Reduce travel where possible. Plan and optimise travel according to the context. Optimise and pool movements with other organisations (e.g. by joining the Fleet Forum). Favour online meetings when appropriate. Identify public transport or soft mobility options (buses, coaches, trains, bicycle).
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#3 Maintain and keep vehicles longer
Extend the life of vehicles through regular and adequate maintenance and repairs. Use original parts, competent garages. Adapt the lifespan of vehicles to the context and safety considerations.
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#4 Adapt fleet with lighter and fuel-efficient vehicles
Choose vehicles adapted to the needs: city car, bus, small van, truck, motorcycle, etc. Avoid 4x4s when not necessary, consider soft mobility options (bicycles, etc.). Favour light vehicles, which consume less energy and are easier to maintain locally, and electric vehicles if the energy mix and the context allow it. Consider biofuel if possible.
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#5 Adopt eco-driving
Eco-driving requires relatively little investment and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% in the long term. Training courses exist in many countries and must be repeated regularly.
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#6 Raise awareness and train staff
Raise awareness among staff by informing them of changes in vehicle use behaviour. Define and disseminate a , consider incentives. Train the vehicle manager on fleet sustainability.
Tools and good practices
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Fleet Forum
The Fleet Forum is a non-profit organisation promoting cleaner, safer, and more efficient transportation around the world. Founded in 2003, it offers benchmarks, advice, access to a community of knowledge and tools for its members.
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ESAT, a Fleet Forum tool to assess fleet management on environmental criteria, 2024
A tool developed by the Fleet Forum to assess an organisation's fleet management. It includes environmental criteria and recognised standards and requirements as well as the DG ECHO Minimum Environmental Requirements and Recommendations (MERR).
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IFRC, Green logistics guide, 2023
IFRC comprehensive guideline on green logistics, including hints and tips for eco-friendly fleet management.
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IFRC, Environmental quick guide, 2022
This environmental guideline displays advice and tips on how to improve humanitarian work’s environmental sustainability. It contains also success stories from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
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IPCC, Factsheet on transport, 2022
Quick overview about IPCC’s conclusions and recommendations on transport, summarised in a factsheet easy to share with the staff.
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To go further
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Carbone4, Webinar on road transport, 2021 (in French)
The French consultancy group Carbone 4, specialised in environmental strategies, held a webinar on the topic: “Road transport: What alternative motorisation for the climate?” Carbone4 regularly posts about this topic on their website.
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The SHIFT Project, Topic page on transport, 2024 (in French)
Regularly updated articles and recommendations on moving towards a low-emission transport sector, developed by the Shift project, a French think tank on decarbonisation.
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The International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT), Comparing lifecycle emissions of combustion engines and electric cars, 2021
The results indicate that even battery electric vehicles registered today have significantly lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other cars. As the electricity mix continues to decarbonise, the life-cycle emissions gap between BEVs and petrol vehicles is expected to widen substantially for medium-sized cars projected to be registered in 2030.
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2Zero: Research and Innovation to reduce road transport emissions, 2024
The "Towards Zero Emission Road Transport" (2Zero) project promotes and supports research and innovation in Europe to reduce road transport emissions within the EU's framework programme for 2021-2027. See their last report from 2024’s conference.
Explore here
Acknowledgment
Last updated 24 July 2024.
Share your success stories, suggestions, and comments with us! contact@climateactionaccelerator.org
Featured
Eco-driving
Carpooling
Maintain and keep vehicles longer
Lighter and fuel-efficient vehicles
Car use rationalisation
Sources
(1) C. Mallet, “Rapport du groupe III du GIEC : que nous disent les scientifiques sur les transports?”, Carbone4.com, 2022. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(2) P. Jaramillo, S. Kahn Ribeiro, P. Newman, S. Dhar, O.E. Diemuodeke, T. Kajino, D.S. Lee, S.B. Nugroho, X. Ou, A. Hammer Strømman, J. Whitehead, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”, IPCC, 2022. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(3) P. Jaramillo, S. Kahn Ribeiro, P. Newman, S. Dhar, O.E. Diemuodeke, T. Kajino, D.S. Lee, S.B. Nugroho, X. Ou, A. Hammer Strømman, J. Whitehead, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”, IPCC, 2022. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(4) IPCC, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC,” Cambridge University Press, 2022, p. 8, DOI: 10.1017/9781009157926.001, (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(5) P. Jaramillo, S. Kahn Ribeiro, P. Newman, S. Dhar, O.E. Diemuodeke, T. Kajino, D.S. Lee, S.B. Nugroho, X. Ou, A. Hammer Strømman, J. Whitehead, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”, IPCC, 2022. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(6) IPCC, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC,” Cambridge University Press, 2022, p. 99, DOI: 10.1017/9781009157926.001, (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(7) Fleet Forum, “2022 Benchmark Findings”, Fleetforum, 2022, p. 22. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
(8) IEA 50, “Electric Vehicles”, iea, 2024. Available here (Accessed 29 July 2024).
Credits
Cover photo: Caleb Ruiter/Unsplash
Garage waste management
