New industry report calls for transformative change to deliver a decarbonised transport system

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A new industry report takes an in-depth look at the impact of transportation on the environment, economies and societies with a particular focus on the challenges and innovative solutions in the aviation and shipping sectors.

A new decarbonising transport report makes five key recommendations to make a positive difference.

A new industry report empowering engineers, policymakers and stakeholders to drive transformative change in transportation infrastructure has just been published by FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers.

The organisation’s latest State of the World report explores the latest trends and innovative solutions shaping a sustainable future for global transportation. The report, Tomorrow’s Transportation and the Decarbonisation Challenge, takes an in-depth look at the impact of transportation on the environment, economies and societies with a particular focus on the challenges and innovative solutions in the aviation and shipping sectors.

Speaking at the launch of the new report, Alfredo Ingletti, FIDIC vice president and chair of the Italian consultancy firm 3TI PROGETTI, said that decarbonising transport was a key challenge for the industry. “As the world intensifies its efforts to achieve sustainability goals and combat climate change, transportation will play a key role across all societies. Our new report showcases real-world case studies, policy recommendations and the latest advancements around decarbonising transport and we hope that its contents will help to empower engineers, policymakers and stakeholders to drive transformative change in transportation infrastructure,” he said.

The report’s author, Basma Eissa, FIDIC’s head of policy, ESG and sustainability, said: “This is a comprehensive piece of work that we hope will be used across our industry and also by policy makers and opinion forms as they look to decarbonise the transport systems on which we all depend. Globally, we are not advancing quickly enough towards net zero, so we need more global cooperation as well as international partnerships to help streamline efforts and share innovations and resources more effectively. Innovation must be accelerated and we need more investment in research and the rapid deployment of new technologies, many of which are highlighted in this report.”

Eissa outlined the five key recommendations contained in the report. These were to promote and adopt sustainable practices, leverage innovation and technology, to advocate for supportive policies, to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and for the industry to commit to continuous learning and development. Details of the recommendations are listed below.

Promote and adopt sustainable practices – The entire FIDIC community, including engineers, policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders, should integrate sustainable practices into every phase of transportation projects. This includes adopting advanced biofuel technologies, synthetic fuels and energy-efficient designs to reduce carbon emissions across aviation, shipping, and marine sectors.

Leverage innovation and technology – Emphasise the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as digitalisation, IoT, AI and renewable energy solutions to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. All members of the FIDIC community should advocate for and implement these innovative solutions.

Advocate for supportive policies – The FIDIC community should work closely with policymakers to create regulatory frameworks that include promoting policies that incentivise the use of sustainable aviation fuels, electrification in shipping and the development of eco-friendly port infrastructure. Whilst some of these may be transitional there will be other that will be enduring post 2050. No action is more dangerous than transitional action.

Foster cross-sectoral collaboration – Collaboration across sectors is crucial for achieving global decarbonisation goals. The FIDIC community is called to engage in partnerships with government bodies, industry stakeholders, academic institutions and non-governmental organisations to share knowledge, resources and best practices in sustainability.

Commit to continuous learning and development – To drive the transition towards sustainable transportation, a global initiative is needed to create a stable environment for developing and implementing transitional and future measures. This effort should focus on equipping both new and existing engineers with the necessary skills and knowledge. Training and educational initiatives must prioritize continuous learning and professional development through courses, webinars, and workshops focused on sustainability.

Eissa also said that there was a real need for political leadership in the delivery of more sustainable and decarbonised transportation. “This means that we require the right policy support in place and regulatory frameworks to support this. Although in the recent period we have seen some positive signs in the commitments given at various COPs and other global climate events, the world and our industry does need to move faster in order to make progress at the pace that is required to reduce emissions, meet global net zero targets and create a more sustainable transport system,” she said.

Click here to download the report, Tomorrow’s Transportation and the Decarbonisation Challenge.