Road freight body Transporting New Zealand says progress on Low Emission Freight Certificates is a “promising” step towards helping trucking businesses and their customers reduce emissions.
Formerly known as Renewable Freight Certificates, the framework is a market-based incentive that would grant certificates to road freight companies operating low-emission vehicles, based on freight tonnage and distance moved. Customers could then buy the certificates to offset their supply chain (Scope 3) emissions, helping fund cleaner freight options.
Updates on the programme were provided at the Sustainable Business Council’s Climate Change and Business Conference earlier this week, with many freight operators and procurers signalling readiness to participate.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the scheme would help companies make meaningful strides towards decarbonisation.
“Transporting New Zealand supports this initiative from the Sustainable Business Council and DETA. It recognises that freight customers have a key role to play in helping transport companies invest in lower emission technologies,” he says.
“These low emission freight certificates allow freight customers to pay a premium for a lower emission product. This will allow further investment in lower emission technology by freight operators.”
Kalasih says practical energy efficiency measures should also be on the agenda for all trucking firms.
“While we’re excited about the progress on low emission freight certificates, we also want people to know that you don’t have to drive a battery electric or hydrogen vehicle to make a difference,” he says.
He acknowledges the challenges ahead, particularly the high upfront costs and infrastructure gaps facing the freight sector.
“Upgrading New Zealand’s fleet to low and zero-emissions vehicles will be costly in the short-term, and most operators cannot make that upfront investment right now. But there are actions that all operators can take.
“Route optimisation, backloading, regular maintenance and utilising larger, higher capacity trucks are all proven methods to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.”
Kalasih says Transporting New Zealand plans to launch a heavy vehicle decarbonisation resource at the end of October and will release more details soon.
