Welsh freight transport needs to be tackled if the nation is to cut its emissions rapidly.
Freight and logistics account for 34% of Wales’ surface transport emissions—significantly higher than the UK average—making urgent action necessary.
Now a new report by Zemo Partnership for the Welsh Government outlines key policy actions to save billions and cut carbon across the country.
It sets out 60 specific objectives with clear timelines and responsible bodies, aiming to save 8.4MtCO2e by 2050.
It highlights a benefit-to-cost ratio of 5.9, with each pound invested unlocking almost £8 in fuel savings for commercial vehicle operators.
This could amount to a £2.1 billion reduction in fuel costs by 2050.
While electrification is the primary long-term solution, the report recognises the role of low-carbon fuels in the near term and the potential for hydrogen beyond the 2030s.
Repowering existing vehicles for zero-emission operation is also suggested for special use cases.
Zemo Partnership’s Director of Policy, Jonathan Murray, said: “The Welsh Government has been correct in identifying the CV sector as critical to decarbonising road transport in Wales. Freight is vital to the country’s economy. The good news is that if we get this transition right, there will be benefits to Wales’ economy, to operators’ bottom-lines and to the local and global environment.”
The report calls for partnerships, barrier removal and education to accelerate progress.
