Efficient Decarbonisation Requires Pragmatic, Mode-Sensitive Reporting Tools
At a recent United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) roundtable, the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the world’s foremost organisation representing the road transport sector, underscored a crucial message: decarbonisation efforts must be guided by operational realism. The IRU called for a pragmatic, mode-sensitive, and standardised reporting framework to ensure that decarbonisation measures across transport modes are not only ambitious but also implementable, measurable, and aligned with industry realities.
Decarbonisation in Focus at UNECE
The discussion took place during the 37th session of the UNECE Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5), which centred on refining the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) template. The NDC framework plays a vital role in enabling countries to report and enhance their climate actions within the inland transport sector under the 2015 Paris Agreement—a cornerstone accord of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
While NDCs are fundamental for tracking progress toward global emission reduction targets, the IRU cautioned that many current reporting mechanisms remain overly theoretical or disconnected from real-world operational constraints. This disconnect risks undermining progress by producing data that looks strong on paper but is impractical to achieve in day-to-day logistics operations. To bridge this gap, IRU urged policymakers to develop reporting templates that reflect actual transport conditions and operational limitations, particularly in road freight and passenger mobility.
A Case Study Rooted in Reality
During the session, Clara Sanchez Lopez, IRU Policy Adviser, presented a detailed case study that illustrated the complexities of implementing decarbonisation measures within international logistics operations. Using IRU’s in-house modelling tool, the study simulated a refrigerated haul between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, focusing on vehicle performance, emissions outcomes, and operational variables.
The results were revealing:
- Electric trucks face operational challenges in specific climates and use cases.
The model showed that a fully electric truck operating independently could lose nearly 90% of its battery capacity while idling at a border checkpoint due to high energy demands from the cooling unit and cabin air conditioning systems. In such conditions, a battery-only solution becomes impractical, underscoring that electrification must be matched to realistic operating profiles, particularly for temperature-sensitive freight moving across long distances in hot climates. - Operational efficiency measures can deliver dramatic emission reductions.
When the simulation incorporated operational improvements—such as faster border crossings enabled by the UN-backed TIR transit system, aerodynamic vehicle enhancements, and higher-efficiency tyres and lubricants—a diesel truck’s CO₂ emissions dropped by up to 86%. This finding demonstrates the enormous potential of optimisation and efficiency measures that can be implemented immediately, even before large-scale fleet electrification occurs. - Combining operational improvements with electrification delivers the greatest gains.
When the same operational measures were paired with an electric truck and border waiting times were reduced by 90%, the overall model showed an approximate 95% reduction in full-cycle vehicle emissions. This hybrid approach—where practical efficiency gains and advanced propulsion technologies complement one another—offers a realistic roadmap toward near-zero emissions.
The study ultimately underscored a fundamental principle: decarbonisation is not only about replacing fuels or vehicles; it is about enhancing operational efficiency, addressing logistical bottlenecks, and designing solutions that are compatible with actual business realities.
Efficiency and Alternative Fuels: Partners, Not Rivals
This real-world example highlights why energy efficiency and alternative fuel adoption should be pursued together, rather than viewed as competing pathways. While the global push for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles continues, the IRU’s findings reveal that operational improvements alone can achieve significant emission reductions without imposing prohibitive costs or requiring major infrastructure overhauls.
Furthermore, by optimising border procedures, vehicle design, and maintenance practices, operators can make measurable progress in reducing emissions while preparing for the eventual integration of low- and zero-emission technologies. Such a strategy is particularly vital for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up the majority of transport operators globally. These businesses often face limited access to capital and infrastructure, making efficiency-based decarbonisation an achievable first step toward broader sustainability goals.
Developing Pragmatic National Roadmaps
The IRU stressed that governments require accurate, data-driven, and operationally feasible national decarbonisation roadmaps. These plans should reflect the diversity of transport operations across modes and regions, ensuring that policies support innovation without imposing unworkable requirements on industry players. According to the IRU, such national strategies should incorporate three foundational principles:
- Mode-Sensitive Reporting
Effective decarbonisation reporting must allow for disaggregation by mode and sub-mode—for instance, distinguishing between urban delivery vehicles, long-haul freight trucks, or refrigerated transport. Each operational category presents different energy profiles, technological readiness levels, and infrastructure needs. A one-size-fits-all approach risks producing distorted results and ineffective policy interventions. A mode-sensitive NDC template ensures that climate measures are clear, actionable, and reflective of operational realities. - SME-Centric Policy Design
The road transport sector is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of which operate on tight margins. As such, reporting templates and policy measures should acknowledge the financial and logistical constraints these operators face. By tailoring requirements to their capacity—through simplified reporting formats, incentives for incremental improvements, and accessible support mechanisms—governments can ensure that decarbonisation becomes a collective effort, not a burden on smaller players. - A Balanced Policy Mix
Successful decarbonisation depends on combining immediate, deployable efficiency measures with long-term investments in alternative fuels and vehicle technologies. Governments should adopt a phased approach that encourages continuous progress: enabling short-term emission cuts through operational efficiency and infrastructure optimisation, while steadily transitioning toward low- and zero-emission propulsion systems. Such a mix aligns ambition with practicality, ensuring progress without disrupting critical logistics chains.
Translating Ambition into Implementation
The IRU reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with governments, industry bodies, and international organisations to ensure that decarbonisation targets translate into tangible, measurable outcomes. Through continued collaboration, data sharing, and real-world case studies, IRU aims to help policymakers design frameworks that support both environmental and economic sustainability.
“Ambitious climate goals require grounded implementation tools,” IRU representatives emphasized. “If we want to achieve lasting emission reductions, we must align policies with how transport actually operates in the real world. Reporting tools that ignore operational realities risk delaying progress rather than accelerating it.”
The call for pragmatic and mode-sensitive reporting mechanisms comes at a pivotal moment for the transport industry, as the sector navigates tightening emissions regulations, technological transformation, and the global push for sustainability. With road transport representing a vital link in the global supply chain, the ability to decarbonise efficiently and intelligently will determine not only climate outcomes but also the resilience and competitiveness of economies worldwide.
As the UNECE and national governments refine their NDC frameworks, the IRU’s message serves as a reminder that data quality, operational practicality, and policy coherence must work hand in hand. A reporting template grounded in real-world transport dynamics will empower both policymakers and businesses to track progress accurately and allocate resources effectively.
By combining realistic modelling, targeted efficiency measures, and gradual technological transition, the road transport sector can chart a sustainable path forward—one that turns the ambition of decarbonisation into actionable, measurable, and enduring progress.