China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the China Road Transport Association (CRTA) launched the China Green Freight Initiative (CGFI) in Beijing. The CGFI aims to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions of China’s truck fleets.

“This initiative strongly supports China’s 12th Five Year Plan priorities on energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions and air pollution from transport.” said Mr. Li Gang, Director-General, Department of Road Transportation, MOT. “Improving fuel efficiency and reducing empty loads are also critical to a competitive road freight sector in China, and thus our economy.”

The initiative results from a concerted effort by MOT, CRTA, and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia), with financial support from Energy Foundation, to establish a national program that meets the strong need from China’s freight transport sector and government’s request.

“The CGFI has been officially endorsed by MOT and will be one of the priority projects of CRTA for the next 3 to 5 years.” stated CRTA President Mr. Yang Limin. “A dissemination and training system for trucking companies on various strategies to bring fuel use and emissions down is thus an important part the CGFI.”

The CGFI Guideline was disseminated during the Launching Ceremony by Ms. Wang Limei, Vice President and Secretary-General of CRTA. It outlines key targets and tasks for this year and next 3 to 5 years. The initiative’s first year is to establish partnership among government agencies, association, private sector companies and other stakeholders, as well as to promote green freight concept and good practices.

“The CGFI will only succeed if government agencies, association, private sector companies and other stakeholders are on board,” said CAI-Asia China Director Ms. Yan Peng. “For this reason we designed the initiative from the outset with broad stakeholder involvement in mind.” “The good platform of CRTA is to gain more multi-government support and engage wider participants from the private sector.” Yan added.

To ensure broad multi-government support to this initiative, a Steering Committee of different government agencies is set up. Mr. Li Gang will be the director of the Steering Committee; while other members are from the Department of Policy and Legislation of MOT, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); the Department of Pollution Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP); the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS); and the Department of Equipment Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

A CGFI Expert Group will provide technical advice and policy briefings to the CGFI Steering Group and the freight sector. Mr. Li Gang announced the composition of the Expert Group with representatives from association (CRTA), government-affiliated research institutes (RIOH, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Institute of Comprehensive Transportation, and Vehicle Emissions Control Center), development agencies (Energy Foundation and the World Bank); NGOs (CAI-Asia), USEPA, enterprises (Sinotrans, Henan Wanli Transportation Co., Ltd., and TransWiseway), and media (China Road Transport Magazine). Additional experts will be invited to join the group or provide advice on relevant topics. The first meeting of the CGFI Expert Group was held last April 18.

The CGFI launch ceremony was chaired by Mme. Limei Wang, Vice President and Director-General of CRTA and representatives of the core partners of CRTA in CGFI including CAI-Asia, delivered speeches. Each member of the Steering Committee and Expert Group received official appointment certificate from MoT. The official LOGO of CGFI was also unveiled by President Yang and Director-General Li.

Unveiling of the China Green Freight Initiative Logo

A Green Freight China Seminar is planned to be held each year in June to provide a platform for idea exchange and cooperation between government, the private sector and other stakeholders. The date for the seminar will be announced shortly.