TRANSPORT

Guidance for the transport sector


Why take action?

As the fastest-growing source of emissions worldwide, it is critical for the transport sector to become more sustainable and help keep global temperature rise well-below 2ºC / 1.5ºC.

Passenger, freight and OEM

Transport companies can set targets using the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA) Transport tool: a technical resource to model science-based targets for direct and indirect transport emissions. The tool is focused on the passenger and freight land transportation and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) sectors and provides greenhouse gas emissions accounting guidance and best practices for science-based target setting.

Shipping

The SBTi has developed the developed the Science Based Target Setting Guidance and Tool for the Maritime Transport Sector, to enable companies within this sector to set emission reduction targets in line with 1.5°C. This was developed with the support of WWF, University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) and the Smart Freight Centre (SFC).

A month-long public consultation was held from March 2021 to April 2021. Expert in the maritime sector provided feedback on the draft guidance and target-setting tool to help ensure the criteria and guidance are robust, clear, and practical.

The SBTi Maritime Guidance is now available. Download the Target Setting Tool and view the Frequently Asked Questions.

To learn more, watch the Deep Dive Webinar and download the slides.

Aviation

Read our guidance for aviation companies and learn more about the project.


Contact the project leads for more information.

Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA) Transport tool

Our Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA) Transport tool can be used to model science-based targets for direct and indirect transport emissions. Key features include:

  • Addition of new transport modes, with 15 transport sub-sectors now included;
  • Development of a new approach for original equipment manufacturers (for scope 3, use phase science-based target-setting); and
  • Inclusion of the International Energy Agency Beyond 2°C scenario (B2DS).

The sectors available in the tool include:

  • Passenger: 2-3 wheelers, light-duty vehicles, buses, mini-buses, urban rail, non-urban rail
  • Freight: 2-3 wheelers, light commercial vehicles, medium freight trucks, heavy freight trucks, rail
  • OEMs: New light duty vehicles, new commercial vehicles, new medium freight trucks, new heavy freight trucks

Transport mode definitions can be found in the guidance document, along with a step-by-step description on how to use the tool, GHG accounting guidance, best practices for target-setting and more information on the science-based target approaches used in the tool.

The tool can be used by passenger transport companies, logistics service providers, shippers, carriers, postal companies, road vehicle manufacturers, auto part manufacturers, and generally companies with large transport emissions in their value chain.

To complement these target-setting resources, a tool is now available for manufacturers of passenger light-duty (PLDV) vehicles to model science-based GHG reduction targets for their scope 1&2 emissions. This tool applies the Sectoral Decarbonization Approach method and uses data from the International Energy Agency 2017 Energy Technology Perspectives report and 2017 Mobility Model data.

Take a look at this visualization for more information on indexed projections and trajectories embedded in the tool and derived from the Mobility Model of the International Energy Agency.

Resources

Browse more sectors

If your sector is not listed here, you can still set a science-based target using our methods and resources. Consult the step-by-step guide to get started.

Sector Status
Aluminium Scoping Phase View
Apparel and footwear Finalized View
Aviation In Development View
Buildings In Development View
Chemicals In Development View
Cement Finalized View
Financial institutions Finalized View
Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Finalized View
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Finalized View
Maritime Finalized View
Oil and Gas In Development View
Power Finalized View
Steel In Development View
Transport In Development View