As governments worldwide face looming climate targets and commitments, the road freight sector stands at a critical crossroads for decarbonization. Trucks facilitate the movement of nearly everything that keeps modern life running — from food and clothing to construction materials and manufactured goods. Yet freight also accounts for an ever-growing share of global emissions, energy use, and air pollution. For governments to meet climate goals while sustaining economic activity, freight systems must change. This is especially true for China, where a rapidly expanding consumer economy has led to a continued surge in the freight and goods delivery industry.
According to the International Energy Agency, CO2 emissions from the sector have almost tripled over the past two decades, with road transport accounting for over 80% of total freight-related emissions. The IEA report also suggests that long-distance freight transport remains one of the most essential (but challenging) sectors for China to decarbonize over the next few decades. As the world’s second-most populous nation, China must adopt new models and technologies to mitigate the freight industry’s substantial emissions, air-quality impacts, and economic costs.
The post Rethinking the Future of Freight Transport for China’s Cities first appeared on Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.
