The Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has released its recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by the freight transportation network operating in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The tri-national commission was established as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to examine environmental impacts arising as a result of continental trade. It makes its reports available to governments of the three countries.
Susan Shaheen, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center, was among a group of experts from industry, academia, environmental organizations, and government who contributed to the report, entitled Destination Sustainability.
The commission’s recommendations ranged from better coordination and networking among the NAFTA partners to creation of a more intelligent freight transportation system, improving supply chain management, greater investment in congested and deteriorating road, rail and waterway infrastructure, carbon pricing, and training eco-drivers.
“The CEC’s study on Sustainable Freight Transportation is both timely and notable,” said Shaheen. “The study identifies key challenges and opportunities that North American—Canada, the U.S., and Mexico—goods movement will continue to face, particularly in rail and trucking, over the next 20 years. Given existing and increasing demand for goods, improved coordination is needed among the three nations to address greenhouse gas emission targets, energy use, and infrastructure issues.”