Smart Freight Centre and FIATA join forces to drive decarbonization in global transport logistics

Smart Freight Centre (SFC), a leading global non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing climate impacts in the freight sector, and FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, the reference point for international policies and regulations for the freight forwarding and logistics industry, representing over 40,000 logistics firms across 150 territories, signed a partnership agreement on 26 September 2024, at the 2024 FIATA World Congress held in Panama. This collaboration represents a pivotal step in accelerating the decarbonisation of transport emissions within the logistics industry, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“This is a further milestone for SFC, partnering with a prominent industry association in the transport value chain. Following our agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global trade association that represents airlines and sets industry standards, in March this year, the partnership with FIATA will ignite more segments in the transport sector to join collaborative efforts in reducing carbon emissions,” said Andrea Schoen, Director at Smart Freight Centre.

Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General, echoed this sentiment, stating: "As the global voice of freight logistics, FIATA is committed to leading the logistics industry towards more sustainable practices. This partnership with SFC is a crucial opportunity to equip FIATA Members with the best knowledge and tools necessary to drive meaningful reductions in emissions and foster long-term sustainability."

As a first joint initiative, SFC and FIATA will launch a co-branded emissions accounting training programme. This training is designed to assist small and medium-sized logistics entities worldwide in consistently reporting their carbon impact and making informed decisions on effective emission reduction strategies.

This partnership signals a unified effort by both organisations to provide the logistics sector with the tools and knowledge needed to meet global decarbonisation goals and support sustainable development.

Smart Freight Centre’s educational branch, the SFC Academy, will be supporting in delivering the co-branded emissions accounting training programme. As SFC’s central hub for knowledge and learning, the Academy is recognized globally as a resource for organisations and freight stakeholders striving to enhance their decarbonisation expertise. The Academy is excited to collaborate with FIATA to make this essential training accessible to the freight community.

The Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) is SFC’s programme where companies and NGOs are dedicated to drive widespread, transparent and consistent calculation and reporting of GHG emissions. The GLEC Framework was developed to offer multinationals and their suppliers a harmonized, efficient, and transparent way to calculate and report logistics emissions. The GLEC Framework has provided the principles upon which ISO 14083 has been based, which will serve as a formally recognized global standard for calculating GHG emissions from transport chains (including logistics and freight).