The United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Transport Unit and the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT) work together on defining and communicating black carbon emissions from transport, mitigation measures, and the importance of addressing road transport emissions for both CO₂ and non-CO₂ reduction.

The recent International Workshop on Black Carbon in Latin America, held in Mexico City in October 2009 addressed the impact of black carbon emissions in several economic sectors and the contribution of black carbon and CO2 to climate change. Dr.Tami Bond and Piers Forster are proceeding as lead authors on a follow-up paper assessing the science of black carbon and climate change, to be published in 2010. >> Read more

The PCFV holds successful 7th Global Partnership Meeting in Hungary

The 7th Global Partnership meeting of the PCFV (7GPM) took place in Szentendre, Hungary on 28- 29 April, 2009 and was attended by 35 participants representing 25 partners and 3 observer organizations. The meeting provided a useful opportunity for Partners to review progress and achievements since the 6GPM held in Beijing, China in April 2008.

The meeting focused on the past year’s advancements in the Partnership’s three core campaigns, encouraging the final steps towards a global leaded gasoline phase out, the low sulphur fuels campaign and the growing body of work to promote clean vehicles. >> Read more

Sixth Global Partnership Meeting

The 6th Global Partnership meeting for the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) will be held in China, as the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration has kindly offered to host the meeting in Beijing on 10 and 11 April 2008.

This years' meeting is especially important because the Partners will decide a new two-year work Program. The meeting will also look back at the past five years that the Partnership has been in existence during which it has become the leading global Programme to promote cleaner fuels and vehicles in developing and transition countries . Finally, governance issues, including nomination of a new Advisory Board will be discussed. >> Read more

Fifth Global Partnership Meeting

The meeting was opened by the Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Dr. Anita Mora Alban and a representative of the Mayor of Quito. Twenty eight PCFV partner organizations participated, with the Environment Secretariat of Argentina, Ecopetrol Colombia, the International Council on Clean Transportation, and the California Air Resources Board attending as observing institutions. >> Read more

Sulfur Working Group

The Sulfur Working Group is chaired by Dale McKinnon (Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association), and has members from auto, auto components, fuels and fuel additives industries, as well as some from governments, independent consultants, and environmental NGOs. The mission of the group is to produce a brief, informative and balanced document regarding the impacts of sulfur in fuels, technological strategies for reducing sulfur in fuels, and policy options and issues for a government to consider when deciding to reduce sulfur. Read more >> Sulphur Report

Octane Working Group

The Octane Working Group is chaired by Fred Potter (International Fuel Quality Center), and has members from the auto, auto components, fuels and fuel additives industries, as well as independent consultants and governments. The mission of the group is to produce a brief, informative and balanced document regarding octane levels.

Public Awareness Working Group

The Public Awareness Working Group is chaired by Martina Otto (UNEP DTIE), and also has members from all stakeholder groups. This WG was formed at the Second Global Partnership Meeting in December 2003, at the behest of Partners who felt it would be valuable if public awareness activities of the Partnership (and Partners) were streamlined. Deliberations of this WG started in February 2004.

Valve Seat Recession (VSR) Working Group

The VSR Working Group was chaired by John Mooney (Environment and Energy Technology and Policy Institute), and has members from the auto, auto components, fuels and fuel additives industries, as well as some from the US EPA and independent consultants. The mission of the group was to produce a brief, informative and balanced document regarding the risks of VSR in the move from leaded to unleaded petrol.

Please click here for a PDF version (656 Kb) of the VSR Report.

Other Global Activities

Italy and UN-DESA Technical Cooperation Project

The Government of Italy has signed a Technical Cooperation Trust Fund Project with UN-DESA. The main objective of the project is to contribute to activities undertaken by DESA in support of the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles. The project will: assist in the identification and development of new technical cooperation projects to eliminate lead from and reduce sulfur in gasoline and diesel fuels; promote public awareness of innovative policies with regard to fuel and vehicle standards and controls; and assist developing countries in formulating and implementing action plans for the elimination of lead and phase-down of sulfur. The project is also aimed at the realization of synergies with bilateral technical assistance programmes aimed at the development of the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles. While the geographic focus may initially be on activities in China and Eastern/Central Europe, technical cooperation in other countries will also be pursued. The financial contribution made available from Italy is USD89,905 for a period of 1 year.