We can’t wait any longer to act on climate change. Its effects are increasingly noticeable. According to the United Nations, the decade from 2010 to 2019 is the hottest on record. For example, during 2019 a record increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) causing global warming were reported in the atmosphere. Floods, extreme temperatures, fires, among other phenomena, have claimed lives and are affecting ecosystems and, therefore, the agricultural sector, risking food security.

Countries and economies around the world have become aware of this problem and they have joined forces to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably under 1.5 degrees Celsius. The goal is to significantly reduce GHG emissions to avoid global temperature rise in this century, as agreed on 12th December 2015 by the 197 countries that adopted the Paris Agreement in the COP21 and the 189 nations that ratified it in 2016.

The Colombian government committed to emitting a maximum of 169,44 million tons of CO2 by 2030, which is 51% less emissions compared to the ones forecasted for the same date: 345,8 million tons of CO2. The goal is to start a decrease in emissions between 2027 and 2030, towards carbon neutral by 2050.

How does transport contribute to emissions?

The Colombian transport sector contributes significantly to total global emissions. According to Colombia's National GHG Inventory Report 2016, transport accounts for 12% of Colombia's GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O), half of which comes from trucks and heavy buses. By excluding buses, Road Freight Transport (RFT) contributes approximately 3% towards emissions.

In addition to the contribution of emissions, trucks are the main means of transport of cargo moving throughout the national territory: they mobilize approximately 97% of goods, excluding coal and oil. For this reason, joint actions to move Road Freight Transport (RFT) toward zero emissions needs to be implemented urgently.