Tackling urban air quality improvement with zero emission buses
In collaboration with partners, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is providing support to 16 countries and cities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to prepare for the introduction of low emission public transport, including electric buses.
UNEP seeks to address the significant emissions and public health burden of urban bus fleets by supporting soot-free engine technologies, including electric engines. This will impact a combined 234 million people, preventing approximately 3,700 premature deaths and as much as 6.6 MMT CO2e (GWP-20) by 2030 (or 1.7 MMT CO2e GWP-100).
Through the Global Electric Mobility Programme and the Soot-Free Urban Bus Fleet project, UNEP and its global and regional partners provide technical and policy support to identify barriers, build capacity, develop strategies, support the development of business models and finance schemes and help with the implementation of pilot projects.
The work in the countries will be supported by the Global Thematic Working Group on Electric Buses, hosted by UNEP, as well as the trainings and events carried out as part of the Regional Support and Investment Platforms.
The Global Working Group on Electric Buses will:
- Support the development of global and regional targets for the shift to electric mobility
- Provide policy advice and facilitate discussions to bring forward the global harmonization of e-mobility standards and regulations
- Develop tools to support e-mobility projects worldwide
The Regional Support and Investment Platforms will:
- Create communities of practice to share lessons and best practices
- Establish marketplaces to mobilize financing and bring together countries, cities, and e-mobility suppliers and financers
- Provide technical support and training to countries and cities
- Provide a helpdesk for the countries and cities keen to introduce electric mobility
The Global Programme currently supports Cote d’Ivoire, Seychelles, South Africa (DBSA), Senegal, Tanzania, Indonesia (with UNDP), Maldives, Nepal, Sir Lanka, Uzbekistan (with UNDP), Jordan (with UNIDO), Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica and Peru (with UNDP) with the introduction of electric buses.
UNEP developed the eMob Calculator for buses, enabling the user to assess the potential of electric and other low emission buses (such as Euro 6 and CNG buses) to reduce energy use, CO2 and air pollutant emissions, as well as costs until the year 2050. The tool can be used to perform cost-benefit analysis on a national, as well as a city, level.
An assessment of a business-as-usual scenario, as well as an eMob scenario, for the global heavy-duty bus fleet indicates that a profound shift to zero and low emission battery electric, hybrid and CNG buses could save approximately 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 and almost 30 million tonnes of particulate matter between now and 2050.
Partner initiatives
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was founded as a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations to protect the climate and to improve air quality through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
UNEP is one of about 100 partners and also hosts the secretariat. The CCAC founded the Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines Initiative, which works towards major reductions in black carbon through the adoption of clean fuel and vehicle regulations and supporting policies. Diesel engines in all economic sectors are the focus. The Soot-Free Urban Bus Fleets project under the Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines Initiative works towards accelerating the global transition to soot-free bus engine technology. The promotion of electric buses is a pillar of the programme.
