How Cities Are Tackling Delivery Emissions

An article by Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive highlights the efforts of eight cities and one county to reduce emissions from delivery services as part of a zero-emissions delivery challenge launched by Climate Mayors, C40, and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator with funding from Wells Fargo.  

According to the National League of Cities, demand for delivery services could drive up emissions by 32 percent, prompting cities to assess ways to limit pollution, which often disproportionately affects low-income communities near distribution centers.

In Santa Monica, California, only clean delivery vehicles can enter a ‘zero-emissions delivery zone’ in the city’s center. New York City wants to move more freight to its rivers to reduce traffic on local roads, while “Washington, D.C., plans to leverage the support of the cohort to create a delivery microhub that supports more sustainable last-mile delivery modes, such as e-cargo bikes.” Other strategies include deliveries at off-peak hours and stricter curb management regulations.

As Kempe explains, “Through the zero-emissions delivery challenge, cities will identify innovative startup and corporate solutions to try. On top of getting access to funding for select startup solutions, participating cities will receive technical support, data analysis, peer-to-peer learnings and meetings with existing private sector delivery companies.”