What is a decarbonised fleet?

Therefore, a decarbonised fleet is a collection of transportation systems under an active and constant effort to reduce emissions associated with their operation. But it’s not just about diminishing or even eliminating the carbon footprint, it also requires committing to sustainably sourced low-emissions fuels.

Decarbonisation is costly and slow to implement, but incredibly necessary to fight climate change. There are challenges on a technical, technological, and regulatory level, as it involves different areas to tackle to meet the ambitious climate targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Action is crucial. In fact, this study proposes that “without additional action in fleet decarbonisation, transport sector emissions could surpass earlier projections and become a significant barrier to avoiding severe climate change impacts.” Instead, if countries collectively maximise their efforts to implement comprehensive low-carbon measures, the sector can achieve reductions that align with a 1.5-degree scenario.

But the main problem with decarbonising the global fleet is fuel, which needs to meet three criteria: availability (global network), scale (mass production), and accessibility (affordability). For land fleet, electrification and LNG are the most popular ones, while aviation is looking into Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) made from a combination of biofuels, and ocean shipping — responsible for 3% of overall GHG — is considering options such as methanol, ammonia and LNG. This goes hand in hand with retrofitting engines and motors to the alternative fuel of choice and technology selection, such as adding real-time tracking devices and fuel consumption indicators for increased optimisation. 

An added challenge is that, on the road to reaching net zero by 2050, these alternative fuels also need to be clean and sustainable. And sustainability is where GHD and decarbonisation meet. Sustainability is a core value at GHD, integrated into our operations and service offerings. We acknowledge that transportation plays a significant role in global emissions, and we are committed to reducing our own carbon footprint while helping clients achieve their sustainability goals.

From road systems to intelligent transport systems, GHD continues to be an integral component in the sector by providing clients with robust, cost-effective and future-proofed transport solutions. Explore our website to learn more about our expertise and range of services.

Articles referenced

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^{Gota et al. 2019, ‘Decarbonising transport to achieve Paris Agreement targets’, In Energy Efficiency, retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12053-018-9671-3}

^{International Air Transport Association 2021, ‘Resolution on the industry’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050’, retrieved July 5, 2023, from https://www.iata.org/contentassets/dcd25da635cd4c3697b5d0d8ae32e159/iata-agm-resolution-on-net-zero-carbon-emissions.pdf#:~:text=IATA%20AGM%20in%202010%2C%20IATA%20member%20airlines%20adopted,and%20a%20reduction%20in%20net%20aviation%20CO%202}

^{International Maritime Organization 2020, ‘Frequently asked questions: The 2020 global sulphur limit’, retrieved July 5, 2023, from https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/2020%20sulphur%20limit%20FAQ%202019.pdf}