Abstract:

The transport sector consumes more than half of global oil production, and releases nearly a quarter of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Further, heavy-duty vehicles, including commercial freight trucks and buses represent just 11% of motor vehicles, but are responsible for almost half of vehicle CO2 emissions and over two-thirds of vehicle particulate emissions. Hence, heavy-duty vehicles are an attractive policy target and a key focus in the G20’s 2014 Energy Efficiency Action Plan. In this briefing paper, the status of motor vehicle energy efficiency policies and emissions control programs in G20 nations are summarised. The report assesses the current status of G20 countries in terms of their adoption of clean vehicle and fuel policies, and synthesize the foundational data on technology availability, adoption cost, emission reduction, and benefit-cost analysis that underlie these polices. The assessment shows that the policies adopted by G20 members largely dictate the air pollution, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions of the global transport sector. Also, substantial societal benefits have accrued to those G20 nations that have adopted clean fuel and vehicle policies identified in this policy brief. The report opins that a collective G20 commitment would amplify the impact of these policies and promote sharing of best practices and technology developments among regions.