The global vehicle fleet is set to increase rapidly from close to 1 billion today to as
much as 2.5 to 3 billion by 2050. 90% of this growth will take place in low and middle
income countries resulting in a potential three-fold increase of CO2 emissions. Black
Carbon and small PM emissions are set to increase similarly with major health and
short term climate impacts.
5000
The transport sector has the highest growth
of CO2 emission of any sector – its
contribution to energy related CO2
emissions are set to go from one quarter
today to one-third by 2050.
4500
4000
3500
CO2 emissions from the global
vehicle fleet in BAU and GFEI/
stabilisation scenario (GFEI
2009)
BAU
Stabilization
3000
2500
While the trend in OECD countries shows
significant improvements in the fuel 20002000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
economy of their fleets (close to 3% per
year), the fuel economy in low and income country fleets is not improving at all. This is mainly due to a
lack of policies and incentives.
While some countries are
still at 5,000 or more parts
per million (ppm) sulfur in
fuels, most developed
countries are moving to 10
ppm – reducing small PM
and BC emissions and
allowing the introduction of
cleaner vehicles that can
further significantly can
reduce PM/BC emissions.
The Global Fuel Economy
Initiative (GFEI) aims at
doubling the efficiency of
the global fleet from an
average of 8L/100 km to
4L/100 km by 2050.
The Partnership for Clean
Fuels and vehicles aims to introduce low sulfur fuels and vehicles emissions standards worldwide to
reduce small PM and BC emissions by 90% or more. Consumers are estimated to spend USD 400 trillion
on fuels and vehicles up to 2050. It is important that these will be state of the art efficient vehicles. With
the right policies in place, major savings can be made in fuel consumption, CO2 and PM/BC emissions.
Partners
The GFEI is implemented by 6 partners: the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT), the
International Transport Forum (ITF), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the FIA Foundation, UC Davis
University and UNEP. The Advisory Group of the GFEI includes the global oil and vehicles industry, major
NGOs and international experts.
The PCFV has over 80 partners – governments, regional and international
organisations, industry representatives (oils and vehicles), and NGOs. The
Secretariat is hosted in UNEP and takes the lead in the implementation of the
workplan in close cooperation with partners.
Achievements
The PCFV has made great progress in the introduction of low sulfur
fuels – something it is working on closely with the CCAC. See the map.
It is expected that the majority of countries in the world can move to
low sulfur fuels in the next 5 to 10 years.
The GFEI is the only global initiative working on automotive fuel
economy, working with an increasing set of countries. See the table.
The GFEI is also recognised as a key transformative accelerator in the
SE4ALL and the UNSG Climate Summit process and UNEP’s energy
efficiency programme.
Doubling the efficiency of the global fleet will have major climate
benefits – it would reduce emissions of CO2 by over 1 gigatonne (Gt) a
year by 2025 and over 2 Gt/yr by 2050, and result in savings in annual
oil import bills alone worth over USD 300 billion in 2025 and USD 600
billion in 2050 (based on an oil price of USD 100/bbl).
Low sulfur fuels and vehicles emissions standards will significantly
reduce BC emissions from the global fleet, up to 90%, and will be
essential for reducing the massive global health burden from small PM
pollution – recently estimated at ~4 million premature deaths per year.
GFEI countries
pilot countries
Chile
Ethiopia
Indonesia
Kenya
under discussion
Serbia
Barbados
Benin
Russia
St Lucia
new 2nd phase
countries
Bahrain
Côte d'Ivoire
Egypt
Georgia
Jamaica
Jordan
Macedonia
Mauritius
Montenegro
Morocco
Peru
Philippines
Thailand
Uruguay
Vietnam
countries that
expressed interest
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Guatemala
Mali
Mozambique
Nigeria
Paraguay
Sri Lanka
Syria
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Colombia
Costa Rica
Malaysia
Nepal
Lessons learned
Voluntary public-private partnerships that have a clear focus and targets can make major and rapid
achievements in reducing short and long term climate emissions. The UN can play a leading role as
neutral moderator and as implementer in these partnerships. Many countries are keen to work with
these partnerships and with UNEP to help put in place concrete policies that have environment, health
and economic benefits.
Contacts
Rob de Jong, Transport Unit UNEP, ph +254-20-7624184, email: rob.jong@unep.org