Driving cleaner, more efficient freight transport across key trade corridors in South America and East Africa
Heavy-duty freight transport is a growing source of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), particularly along major trade corridors in developing regions. The Green Freight Corridors project, an action under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition's (CCAC) Heavy-duty Vehicles and Engines Hub, supports countries in South America and East Africa in measuring, managing, and reducing freight vehicle emissions through standardized data, coordinated policies, and multi-stakeholder action.
The project connects the Bi-Oceanic Corridor in South America with the Northern Corridor of East and Central Africa, fostering South-South cooperation between regions facing similar challenges: ageing vehicle fleets, limited emissions data, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. By aligning governments, industry, and experts, the project enables practical, scalable pathways toward low-emission freight systems.
Why freight corridors matter
Freight corridors move most goods that support economic growth, but heavy-duty freight vehicles are also a rapidly growing source of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). Targeting emissions at the corridor level enables high-impact action where freight activity and mitigation potential are greatest.
Why South America and East Africa
The Bi-Oceanic Corridor in South America and the Northern Corridor in East and Central Africa are critical trade routes facing similar challenges, including aging vehicle fleets, limited emissions data, and fragmented regulations. These shared conditions create strong opportunities for South-South cooperation and coordinated solutions.
What the project does
The project helps countries measure, manage, and reduce freight emissions by strengthening emissions data, aligning policies, and developing corridor-specific Green Freight Strategies. Through capacity-building and multi-stakeholder coordination, it supports the adoption and scaling of low-emission freight solutions.
Project objectives, results & impact
Project Objectives
The project aims to:
- Improve baseline data on heavy-duty freight vehicle fleets and emissions
- Identify policy and regulatory gaps affecting freight emissions reduction
- Develop corridor-specific strategies to reduce SLCPs and greenhouse gas emissions
Expected Results
- A standardized emissions accounting framework for freight corridors
- Improved regional datasets on freight vehicle fleets and emissions
- Corridor-specific Green Freight Strategies and Action Plans
- Strengthened coordination among public and private stakeholders
Impact
The project will significantly reduce emissions from the transport sector, particularly SLCPs such as black carbon, while delivering co-benefits for air quality, public health, climate mitigation, and trade efficiency. By strengthening data, policy alignment, and institutional coordination, the project lays the foundation for the long-term transformation of freight systems and the scaling of low-emission solutions.
What we do
1. Emissions accounting and data systems
The project strengthens emissions measurement and transparency by:
- Developing a Green Freight Corridor SLCP Emissions Accounting Framework aligned with the GLEC Framework and ISO 14083
- Compiling freight vehicle fleet and emissions databases for both corridors
- Developing regional emission intensity values and fuel emission factors
- Delivering capacity-building and training for governments, industry, and civil society
- Updating emissions datasets for the Northern Corridor, including regional intensity factors
- Facilitating South-South knowledge exchange between South America, East Africa, and ASEAN freight initiatives
2. Regional Strategy and Coordination
To support implementation and policy coherence, the project:
- Conducts policy and regulatory gap analyses for freight and mobile-source emissions
- Develops Green Freight Strategies and Action Plans for the Bi-Oceanic Corridor
- Co-designs gender-responsive and inclusive solutions with public and private stakeholders, academia, and civil society
- Establishes regional coordination mechanisms for green freight collaboration
- Supports working groups to harmonize vehicle emissions standards and accounting approaches
Where we work
East Africa – Northern Corridor
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
South America – Bi-Oceanic Corridor
Innovation, inclusion and South-South cooperation
The project integrates:
- International standards (GLEC Framework, ISO 14083) to ensure comparability and credibility
- Gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to stakeholder engagement
- South-South cooperation, enabling regions to learn from each other's policy, technical, and institutional innovations
- Engagement with the private sector and financial partners to unlock future investment and scale low-emission freight solutions
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Partners & Donors
Implementing Partners
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Smart Freight Centre (SFC)
Donor
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
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