Climate Change - How the UK Freight Industry is Responding

With climate change now accepted as fact, world leaders are becoming more united in their efforts to stave off the cumulative effects of increased carbon dioxide levels. There is a growing level of global focus on climate science, emissions reductions, carbon neutral schemes, greenhouse gas measurement, and renewable energy, and positive efforts within the UK freight and logistics industry are among the most significant.

How is Climate Change Affecting Us?

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report about how the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases has "increased due to human activities" (namely, the burning of fossil fuels), and is set to bring about long term changes in the Earth's climate –which is predicted to go up by two degrees by 2100. Climate change experts predict that these warmer conditions could lead to variations in the weather (affecting global agriculture), and the melting of glaciers, which could cause a rise in sea levels.

How is the Freight Industry Responding?

With the UK Government setting key targets to reduce the nation's emissions by a massive 80% by 2050, these days, everyone making a living doing delivery work (or in fact any role within the freight and logistics industry) is, by necessity, involved in some kind of green initiative – whether directly or indirectly.

Individual Commitments

In terms of reducing carbon emissions, even the simplest measures undertaken on an individual basis can be sustainable and effective. The upshot is that going green is also saving logistics and delivery work operators money and increasing their 'bottom line'. At the most grass roots level, regular vehicle maintenance and sensible driving practices contribute greatly to increasing fuel efficiency, which in turn leads to a reduction of carbon emissions.

Industry-wide Green Initiatives

The UK Freight Transport Association (FTA) is an important industry body that has implemented a number of broad ranging initiatives designed to support the reduction of carbon emissions across the board.

The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) is a voluntary initiative (endorsed by the Department of Transport) that records and reports on carbon emissions of its extensive membership (covering 75,000 vehicles). The data collected is used to track efficiencies and improvements over time, and the scheme's success has been praised, with members' emission reductions significantly greater than the rest of the industry.

Carbonfta is a practical information guide provided by the FTA to help industry members understand how CO2 emissions and climate change in general affects them. Carbonfta provides news, advice, best practice guides, and downloadable resources alongside the FTA's regular services of consultancy, vehicle inspection services, training and sponsorship and advertising opportunities.

DFT's Low Carbon HGV Task Force was established in 2011 to promote low emission and fuel-efficient technologies, and remove financial and legislative barriers to carbon reduction initiatives across the industry. Representation on the task force comes from the FTA, the Road Haulage Association, Department of Transport, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and several other key industry associations.

Moving Forward

The issue of climate change is front and centre of the global political agenda, and the possibility of intensifying carbon reduction policies will continue to have an effect on logistical and operational procedures of professional delivery workers into the future. But with the UK freight industry proving itself as a vanguard in the deliverance of achievable and sustainable results, the changes are looking increasingly positive.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry in the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching delivery work and to buy and sell road transport in the domestic and international markets. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.