The global car fleet is set to triple by 2050, with most of the growth anticipated to take place in developing and emerging economies. It is therefore key that the shift to cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles including vehicle electrification, does not exclude developing and transition countries. Thus, international climate goals will need to include the Global South if they are to be achieved.
The Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) promotes vehicle efficiency and electrification to secure a global fleet transformation to zero carbon vehicles by 2050. It is a partnership of six world-leading organisations - the International Transport Forum (ITF), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UC Davis, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and FIA Foundation. The main funders include UNEP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), FIA Foundation and the European Union (EU).
GFEI Partners
GFEI Donors
The GFEI has supported over 100 countries to carry out fuel economy baseline assessments and trends, with UNEP directly supporting over 70 developing and transition countries. Some of these countries have been further supported to develop and implement policies that will support the shift to more efficient vehicles including electric vehicles.
A 2023 GFEI report analysing the fuel economy of passenger cars in the Global South concludes that while fuel economy improvements have been highest in the high-income countries, the rate of improvement is stagnating. In contrast, the rate of fuel economy improvement in the Global South is intensifying, however this improvement is being annulled by increasing car weight, size, and power. Hence the need for improved vehicle efficiency and electrification across the globe if the Paris Climate Agreement targets are to be met.
With EU funding, communication materials targeting the different regions on the need, benefits and progress made on fuel economy improvement have been developed.
More information is available on the GFEI website.
