Freight and logistics generate around 6 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Companies are increasingly asked to report and systematically reduce emissions, giving companies with a smaller carbon footprint a competitive advantage. Until now, comparing emissions across different modes of transport could be like comparing apples to oranges because so many methodologies exist.
The first green freight program was SmartWay in the US, launched in 2004 and since expanded into Canada and Europe. Regional programs for road freight exist in Europe and Asia, and the Clean Cargo Working Group covers sea freight. These efforts provide a strong basis to build on, and this has now happened with the launch of the GLEC Framework for Logistics Emissions Methodologies, which combines existing methods into one framework and fills the gaps, which is a major international collaborative effort, and a milestone for shippers, carriers and logistics service providers who have been have been waiting for a harmonized cross-modal calculation method. Will these voluntary programs be sufficient. or can we expect more pressure and regulation?
I expect more pressure on the industry, also the shipping industry in the coming year. The pressure on Europe to take action on shipping’s climate emissions is building after the IMO decided last month to delay by at least a further seven years any decision on a global agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Shipping is a fast-growing source of greenhouse gases, and is projected to account for 17 percent of global emissions by 2050, if left unabated.
In Europe, a lot has been said on US election of Donald Trump as president, which may bring to an abrupt halt the excitement surrounding the Marrakesh COP 22 meeting. This was marked by a rare high point of global cooperation on climate action. But more than 600 companies have already said they expect to change their strategy as a result of the Paris agreement’s adoption. Despite some growing challenges, we must keep the goal in mind — to create a climate-resilient international freight sector. The participation of all business partners is crucial to this effort.