The transport sector is a major contributor to ambient fine particles in major cities, and emits some 19% of global black carbon. Recent research has identified diesel vehicles and engines as one of the most attractive sectors for black carbon mitigation. Fine particles and black carbon from diesel vehicles and engines can be virtually eliminated through technologies that are present on half of new heavy-duty vehicles sold today.
The Coaltion's Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines Initiative works to catalyse major reductions in black carbon through adoption of clean fuel and vehicle regulations and supporting policies. Efforts focus on diesel engines in all economic sectors.
The Initiative’s objective is to virtually eliminate fine particle and black carbon emissions from new and existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines through the introduction of low sulfur fuels and vehicle emission standards. Roughly half of new and existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles are currently subject to world-class emission standards with diesel particle filters and the aim it so ensure that the remaining unregulated or inadequately regulated half of global diesel fleet will achieve the same. Our target is to reach 10 ppm sulfur in fuels by 2025 globally, while at the same time also supporting the introduction of vehicles emissions standards and contributing to the goals of the Coalition.
Current milestones:
Over the last year, the Coalition has increased high-level engagement and developed a robust framework for a multiple benefits pathway approach. Key results from our 11 initiatives are reflected...
This document presents results from the Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s Diesel Initiative reported between July 2016 and June 2017. These results were recorded using the Demonstrating...
Lead Partner: A Coalition partner with an active role in coordinating, monitoring and guiding the work of an initiative.
Implementer: A Coalition partner or actor receiving Coalition funds to implement an activity or initiative.
Fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs. A recent study of leading public health risks ranked ambient fine particle pollution ninth among all risk factors in 2010, contributing to 3.7 million deaths in 2012. Black carbon is the second largest contributor to human-induced climate warming to-date, after carbon dioxide. All major OECD economies have dramatically reduced fine PM and BC emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles through a combination ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and diesel emission control technologies; there is up to a 99 per cent removal efficiency with diesel particulate filters.
Desulfurization refers to the gradual move to low sulfur fuels. Most developed countries have now moved to fuels with a sulfur content of 50 parts per million or even 15 or 10 parts per million (ppm). Reducing fuel sulfur levels is a vital precondition for reducing the health impacts associated with transportation. Fuel sulfur directly increases production of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in vehicle exhaust. PM2.5 is a dangerous pollutant associated with heart disease, lung cancer, and a range of other harmful health effects. Low sulfur fuels are necessary for cleaner engines (for example high compression diesel engines) and high fuel sulfur levels also interfere with the performance of vehicle emissions control equipment designed to remove small particulates and other pollutants from the exhaust stream (for example particulate filters and catalysts).
Green freight refers to the efforts of the freight sector to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants and improve fuel efficiency across the global supply chain while maintaining competitiveness and economic growth. By reducing the amount of energy (i.e., fuel use) associated with freight transport through a range of measures, businesses can reduce costs and become more competitive. These efficiency measures invariably lead to emissions savings that result in broader benefits for society and the environment. Freight movement is largely driven by diesel-powered cargo vessels, trucks, and trains. While diesels are the workhorses of the transport sector and relatively energy efficient (as compared to gasoline vehicles or jet aircrafts), their combined contribution to transportation-related climate warming greenhouse gases and other short-lived climate pollutants, particularly black carbon, is significant.
Soot-free engine technologies are those that achieve at least a 99% reduction in tailpipe black carbon emissions compared to uncontrolled diesel exhaust. These technologies include any diesel or alternative fuel engines certified to Euro VI or US 2010 emission levels.
As an example, soot-free buses can be powered by a wide range of fuels including fossil diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG), biogas, or other liquid biofuels, and electric drive engines including hybrid drive, fuel cell, and battery electric drivetrains. A soot-free bus – be it diesel, natural gas or electric – will emit 99% less tailpipe PM2.5 and 85% less black carbon compared to a diesel bus without any emission controls.
Presentation on Guidance to Fuel Importing Countries for Reducing On-Road Fuel Sulfur Levels for the webinar conducted on 20 and 22 November 2018.
Reducing sulfur in transportation fuels provides immediate near-term emission reductions to improve air quality and mitigate climate change by reducing emissions from the existing, on-road fleet....
The discussion process of the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change (FBMC) for Brazil's Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Proposal (NDC) has been carried out in the nine Thematic...
Governments are poised this week to begin discussing rules to curb black-carbon pollution from ships, after nearly seven years of preparation. The sooty emissions, which are produced by diesel...
The Southeast Asian road transport sector consumes an estimated 139,874 kilotons of oil annually.1 As a result of a rapid increase of private cars and motorcycle use in recent years, the region’s...
Building Communications Campaigns around Sustainable Transport, Air Pollution & Urban Health Issues ...
This document is a technical document on soot free public transport to raise awareness on the benefits to air quality and climate in Colombia.
Worldwide, the transport sector contributes...