Challenge

Freight transport and logistics activities account for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with demand projected to nearly triple by 2050, according to the International Transport Forum. Achieving the Paris Agreement targets will require significant improvements in freight transport efficiency and reductions in transportrelated emissions. However, inconsistency in the methods of calculating GHG emissions across different modes of transport complicates the consolidation of multi-modal supply chain emissions, often resulting in inaccurate estimates.

Solution

Co-funded by industry coalitions and the European Commission, the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) co-established the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) in 2014 with members from corporations, industry associations and academia. The council has developed the GLEC Framework, a comprehensive methodology for standardizing the calculation and reporting of logistics-related GHG emissions across multi-modal supply chains. This framework covers all transport modes (road, rail, air and maritime) as well as logistics hubs and services such as warehousing. Designed to guide business decisions, the GLEC Framework helps to reduce emissions and track progress towards climate goals. It aligns with prominent institutions and standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the UN-led Global Green Freight Action Plan and CDP Reporting.

Impact

The GLEC framework has been adopted by over 150 leading companies and is updated annually. It served as the primary industry guideline for developing ISO 14083, which was published in 2023. The introduction of ISO 14083 marks a significant milestone in gaining wider acceptance of the principles established by the GLEC Framework, which has been developed in collaboration with the industry over nearly a decade.