Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) - Relaunched to accelerate progress on decarbonising road transport

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Non-governmental organization (NGO)

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#SDGAction43375

Description

The Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) has set new targets to raise ambitions globally for improving vehicle fuel economy, which is vital for achieving SDG 7.3 on energy efficiency. These targets are ambitious, trackable, policy relevant, and easily communicated.

First established in 2009, GFEI re-launched in 2019 to accelerate action on improving vehicle efficiency and the transition to low-carbon vehicles. This includes a wider focus across all sectors – including light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and buses. GFEI now works with around 70 countries, and a range of international and regional organisations, such as SE4ALL, the G20, and the UNFCCC.

GFEI has set global targets to double average light duty fuel economy by 2030, and reduce it by 90% by 2050. GFEI is based on detailed data and technical analysis published through a working paper series of technical papers. GFEI has also established the only regular global monitoring of fuel economy trends.

GFEI’s in-country support started with four pilot countries, and has expanded to over 70 countries. GFEI provides policy support through our ‘toolkit’ approach, which enables countries to custom-build solutions based on a full understanding of their own unique circumstances and fleet characteristics

GFEI engages at high-level events, and in key global processes, bringing the issue of vehicle efficiency to the fore, and pressing for effective policy globally, regionally, and nationally. The GFEI partners work together and collaborating with regional experts to support governments and policy makers in implementing fuel economy policies. This includes providing input into major international processes, such as the G20 Transport Task Group and the SDG7 technical group.

Expected Impact

GFEI’s main goal for passenger vehicles, in line with SDG 7.3, is to double the energy efficiency of new vehicles by 2030. This will also help mitigate climate change by reducing harmful CO2 emissions. For this reason GFEI has been recognised by SEforALL as an accelerator initiative, and by SLoCaT (the partnership on Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport) as a ‘quick win’ at the COP 21 Climate talks. GFEI also provides support to the G20 Transport Task Group. The improvement in fuel economy between 2005 and 2015 led to an annual saving of 1.5EJ of energy, equivalent to the entire transport-related energy use of Italy per year.

GFEI’s new targets and expanded approach will significantly improve fuel economy across the whole of the road transport sector, contributing to SDG7, by improving energy efficiency and cutting fuel use, and also reducing carbon emissions (SDG13). There are a range of other co-benefits, including improved air quality, lower oil imports and consumption, and a transition to low-carbon renewable energy.

GFEI’s targets aim to reduce carbon emissions per vehicle by 90% for light-duty vehicles by 2050, 70% for heavy-duty trucks, and 95% for buses and two- and three-wheeled transport. Overall (because of expected increases in vehicle numbers, this would lead to a fleetwide CO2 reduction target of 65% by 2050 compared with 2005. In 2050, this would lead to

For Heavy Duty Vehicles, GFEI has set a target of improving average fuel economy by 35% by 2035. This would save 9 million barrels of oil per day, and 1-2 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2035. Half of these savings would come from just two countries – China and India, which would save around a quarter each.

Partners

FIA Foundation [NGO], UN Environment [United Nations], IEA [Intergovernmental organisation], ICCT [NGO], UC Davis [Academic Institution], ITF [Intergovernmental organisation]

SDGS & Targets

Goal 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

7.1

By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

7.1.1

Proportion of population with access to electricity

7.1.2

Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology

7.2

By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

7.2.1

Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

7.3

By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency

7.3.1

Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP

7.a

By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology

7.a.1

International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development and renewable energy production, including in hybrid systems

7.b

By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support

7.b.1

Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)

Goal 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

11.1

By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

11.1.1

Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing

11.2

By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons

11.2.1

Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

11.3

By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries

11.3.1

Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate

11.3.2

Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically

11.4

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

11.4.1

Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)

11.5

By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations

11.5.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

11.5.2

Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)

11.5.3

(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters

11.6

By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

11.6.1

Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities

11.6.2

Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)

11.7

By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities

11.7.1

Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

11.7.2

Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months

11.a

Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning

11.a.1

Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space

11.b

By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels

11.b.1

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

11.b.2

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

11.c

Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials

Goal 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

3.1

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births

3.1.1

Maternal mortality ratio

3.1.2

Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

3.2

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births

3.2.1

Under-five mortality rate

3.2.2

Neonatal mortality rate

3.3

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases

3.3.1

Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations

3.3.2

Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.3

Malaria incidence per 1,000 population

3.3.4

Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.5

Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases

3.4

By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

3.4.1

Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

3.4.2

Suicide mortality rate

3.5

Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

3.5.1

Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders

3.5.2

Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol

3.6

By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents

3.6.1

Death rate due to road traffic injuries

3.7

By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes

3.7.1

Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods

3.7.2

Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group

3.8

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

3.8.1

Coverage of essential health services

3.8.2

Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income

3.9

By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination

3.9.1

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

3.9.2

Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)

3.9.3

Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning

3.a

Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate

3.a.1

Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older

3.b

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all

3.b.1

Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme

3.b.2

Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors

3.b.3

Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis

3.c

Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States

3.c.1

Health worker density and distribution

3.d

Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks

3.d.1

International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness

3.d.2

Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms

SDG 14 targets covered

Name	Description

Deliverables & Timeline

01 January, 1970

Policy support to national governments to implement fuel economy policy

01 January, 1970

Regular research publications and tracking progress

01 January, 1970

Support for major international processes

Resources mobilized

Financing (in USD)

Support from FIA Foundation, European Commission and others

In-kind contribution

Expert skills and experience of GFEI partners

Partnership Progress

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Feedback

Action Network

Timeline

17 May 2019 (start date)

01 December 2030 (date of completion)

Entity

FIA Foundation

SDGs

7 11 3

Region

Africa
Asia and Pacific
Europe
Global
Latin America and the Caribbean
North America
West Asia

Geographical coverage

London, UK

Other beneficiaries

GFEI works with a range of stakeholders in order to promote cleaner, more efficient vehicles. This includes national governments, policy makers and international organisations who set and influence policy frameworks. This includes regional groups, such as ECOWAS in Africa, ASEAN in Asia, and through global processes, such as the G20, and UN climate processes, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), and the SDG7 technical group. Through our partners we have excellent links with vehicle manufacturers and technical experts.\r\nImproved fuel economy has multiple benefits. It benefits consumers, who use less fuel/energy when using their vehicles, saving money and also reducing harmful greenhouse gases and improving air quality. These benefits have wider environmental impacts, mitigating climate change, and preventing harmful public health impacts from vehicle pollutants. For governments, fuel economy can also improve energy security, balance of payments and support the transition to green energy.