Transportation
DGA’s work focuses on the three highest emitting sectors: electricity, industrial, and transportation, which collectively account for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and 96% of nitrous oxide emissions in the United States. By working across these sectors, we can improve air quality, protect public health, and mitigate climate impacts such as the extreme weather and wildfires that threaten our economy and national security.
DGA advocates for transportation decarbonization to protect the climate, strengthen the economy, and improve public health.
The U.S. transportation sector moves goods and people across more than 3 trillion miles every year. It’s the largest single contributor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for roughly one-third of total GHG output. Certain modalities, though, have an outsized impact: medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for less than 10% of vehicles on the road but more than a quarter of on-road emissions. And with continuing growth in e-commerce, major companies must contend with the disparate emissions profiles of air freight versus ocean and rail.
Transportation sector emissions also have serious implications for air quality and health, due to the dangerous nitrogen oxide and particulate matter released when combusting traditional fuels.
Tackling transportation emissions will require a commitment from a wide range of groups, including:
- → Lawmakers and regulators at all levels of government, who can provide financial and other policy support for clean transportation
- → Major companies, many of which have already pledged to curb emissions from the logistics sector
- → Electric utilities and fuel manufacturers who will need to evolve their processes to support this transition
- → Individual people, who make decisions every day about how they will travel from place to place
Solutions to Industrial Decarbonization
Deploy zero-emission vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and buses.
Policy support must focus on financial incentives, charging networks, and grid capacity.
Invest in cutting-edge sustainable fuels.
Clean hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, and sustainable maritime fuels can help power the future of transportation.
Build walkable, bikeable, and transit accessible communities.
Taking public transportation reduces CO2 emissions by 45%, compared to driving a car.
Corporate Transportation Tracker
DGA Project Highlight: Corporate Transportation Tracker
Many U.S. and global companies have pledged to reduce their transportation-related emissions. DGA’s Corporate Transportation Initiatives Tracker tallies commitments from 150 top retailers and 100 top logistics companies. The Tracker also examines what concrete steps those companies have taken, thus far, to meet their goals, including purchase of medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles, deployment of electric vehicle charging solutions, and implementation of high-impact efficiency measures.
