29 NOV 2023 · ENVIRONMENT
Speaking at the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai today, IRU has outlined a realistic and practical roadmap to effectively decarbonise commercial road transport without undermining vital mobility and logistics services.
On the eve of COP28 kicking off in Dubai, leading political, industry, academic and civil society figures have come to together at the World Green Economy Summit in the city.
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the annual high-level forum focuses on advancing the global green economy and sustainability agenda to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In the Summit’s principal session on green transportation, IRU stressed the essential role of road transport and reinforced IRU’s vision and mission on sustainable transport, and the broader industry’s responsibility in driving its own decarbonisation via the IRU Green Compact.
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “Commercial road transport is the lifeblood of economies and communities in all countries. Our challenge is to decarbonise the sector without harming the people and their livelihoods who depend on those services.
“If we get road transport wrong, we won’t achieve any of the 17 sustainable development goals.”
IRU’s Green Compact provides a clear blueprint for the industry’s decarbonisation journey.
Based on five pillars of action bringing together efficiency wins and a pragmatic roll-out of alternative fuels, the IRU Green Compact maps a wide mix of solutions that are flexible and adaptable for the wide range of countries and energy landscapes in the world today.
Over half of the necessary cumulative reduction in CO2 emissions through to 2050 can be achieved with immediate efficiency wins – with more efficient logistics chains, vehicles and drivers. But this needs political will and regulatory support.
Looking forward to the COP28 negotiations, Umberto de Pretto therefore called on governments to work in partnership with the road transport industry to scale up available and proven road transport decarbonisation best-practices and solutions.
“Governments need to legislate and communicate a clear vision and enabling conditions that will work for road transport operators to drive immediate efficiency wins, and thus CO2 emission reductions, as well as invest over the medium term in alternative fuel technology.
“Road transport operators know best how to run sustainable transport services. With the right economic and regulatory framework, the right infrastructure and operational support, and the right technology, road transport companies will decarbonise and drive the industry to become carbon neutral by 2050,” concluded Umberto de Pretto.
