Jenny Archibald from Norwegian Refugee Council discusses lessening the ecological impact in humanitarian ventures
Reducing Fleet Emissions in the Humanitarian Sector: The 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' Approach
The 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' approach is a widely recognized framework for reducing transport-related emissions, including fleet emissions. This approach is being implemented in the humanitarian sector to help reduce carbon footprints while maintaining operational effectiveness.
The first step, 'Avoid', involves minimizing logistical travel needs. This can be achieved through better planning, such as using remote management, digital communications, or consolidating trips to reduce fleet mileage.
The second step, 'Shift', focuses on transitioning fleets to cleaner vehicle options or more sustainable transport modes. This could mean transitioning to electric or hybrid vehicles, or shifting to more sustainable transport modes appropriate for the context, such as bicycles or cargo bikes for last-mile delivery in congested areas.
The final step, 'Improve', involves optimizing operational efficiency. This can be achieved by training drivers in eco-friendly driving techniques, maintaining vehicles properly, adopting telematics for route optimization, and upgrading to more fuel-efficient or alternative-fuel vehicles to reduce consumption and emissions per mile.
Jenny Archibald, the global lead for reducing environmental footprint at the Norwegian Refugee Council, discusses the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' approach for reducing emissions in the humanitarian sector. Archibald highlights the unique challenges each region presents in reducing fleet emissions, requiring a framework-based strategy to tailor solutions to specific contexts.
One example of the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' approach in action is a successful carpooling project in Lebanon by Fleet Forum. This project demonstrates the substantial potential for emission reduction on a larger scale.
The Global Fleet Summit Virtual Experience, a collaboration with Fleet Forum, provided a platform for discussions on various aspects of the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' approach. Topics included the potential of data tracking to reduce road crashes, the potential for flexible fleet funding methods like subscription and novated lease, and the potential benefits of AI and ML for commercial fleets.
In conclusion, the humanitarian sector applies the Avoid-Shift-Improve approach by focusing on sustainable fleet management practices that prioritize reducing travel needs, adopting cleaner technologies, and continuously improving operational efficiency. Consistent data collection and meaningful analysis are crucial in the 'Improve' stage, and a culture that incorporates emissions reduction into decision-making processes is essential for long-term success.
In the humanitarian sector, Jenny Archibald, the global lead for reducing environmental footprint at the Norwegian Refugee Council, emphasizes the need for a customized approach to reduce fleet emissions, considering the challenges in each region. This customized approach is precisely what the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' framework provides, addressing logistical travel needs through better planning, transitioning to cleaner vehicles or more sustainable transport modes, and optimizing operational efficiency. This strategy is not limited to fleet management in the humanitarian sector, as it also extends to workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness initiatives, promoting science-backed solutions to climate-change and environmental-science issues.
