Global Fuel Economy Initiative

 Public-Private partnership to double vehicle efficiency

High-Impact Area: Energy

Problem: On the basis of existing technologies, huge gains could be made in vehicle fuel economy, gains that could help every country, but particularly those in the developing world, to address the pressing issues of climate change, energy security and sustainable mobility.

Objective: By September, 20 additional countries and 5 to 10 private sector partners, especially from the oil and vehicles industries, join the Global Fuel Economy Initiative and commit to a goal of doubling vehicle efficiency by 2030. By putting in place fuel economy policies in all countries, more than 1 Gt of CO2 emissions per year could be avoided by 2030 and over 2 Gt by 2050. These emissions reductions will be achieved if the global fleet doubles its efficiency – going from 8l/100km to 4l/100km.

Going Forward: This collaboration can transform the investment landscape for building efficiency projects and deliver new jobs, reduced energy costs, and increased economic productivity. Additional government and business partners who share this objective are welcome to join;

  • Highlight upcoming key events that can help mobilize support: Sustainable Energy for All High Level Forum, June 4-6, New York. UN Environment Assembly, June 23-27, Nairobi.
  • What are critical next steps to ensure this initiative crosses a threshold to become transformational? Mobilizing additional countries and companies to participate.
  • Who needs to come on board and contribute in what capacity? Governments to develop policies to encourage fuel economy improvement for vehicles produced or sold in their countries

Stakeholders:

  • Leadership Group for the Initiative: Sustainable Energy for All, UNEP, World Bank Group, GFEI Partners (FIA Foundation, IEA, International Transport Forum, International Council on Clean Transportation, Institute of Transportation Studies)
  • Member State partners: The GFEI is currently working with 20 countries; the goal is to double this number by the time of the Climate Summit
  • Business partners: Shell, Bosch, Michelin, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, Accenture
  • Civil society partners: Clean Air Asia, Mario Molina Centre, Natural Resources Defense Council, Regional Environment Center for Central and Eastern Europe, Transport & Environment
UN Focal Point for Summit:

UNEP, Achim Steiner (Contact: Merlyn Van Voore merlyn.vanvoore@unep.org)

For more information on Global Fuel Economy Initiative and its initiative to double fuel economy, please see:

Interview with Sheila Watson, Executive Secretary of the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (coming soon)