What Happened
- Smart Freight Centre (SFC) India, in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and IIM-Bangalore, released a whitepaper titled "Institutionalizing Freight Emissions Accounting in India: Pathways for Clean Freight Programs and Policy Integration" on February 11, 2026.
- The report warns that under a business-as-usual scenario, freight activity (in ton-km) would increase by over 500% from 2017 to 2047, resulting in approximately a 400% increase in freight CO2 emissions.
- The whitepaper calls for a nationally harmonised emissions accounting framework aligned with ISO 14083 and the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework, while incorporating India-specific emission factors.
- India-specific GLEC values have been unveiled by SFC India to streamline freight emissions tracking, tailored to local data realities and logistics characteristics.
Static Topic Bridges
Freight Modal Share and Transport Emissions in India
India's freight sector is heavily road-dependent, with road freight accounting for nearly 79% of total freight movement (up from 37% in 1990), while rail freight has declined from 63% to about 21% during the same period. Road freight generates 95% of the sector's CO2 emissions (approximately 220 million tonnes), despite being far less efficient than rail transport. Railways consume 75-90% less energy and emit 28g CO2-equivalent per net ton-km compared to 64g for road transport.
- Indian Railways currently carries about 1.4 billion tonnes of freight with roughly 27% modal share
- Shifting freight from road to rail could reduce CO2 emissions by 4.3 gigatonnes between 2020-2050
- Coastal and inland waterways, currently at 6% share, are being developed as cheaper, less emission-intensive alternatives
- NITI Aayog's "Fast Tracking Freight in India" report advocates for a multimodal approach
Connection to this news: The SFC-TERI whitepaper underscores why accurate emissions measurement is essential before any modal shift policy can be designed, as without India-specific emission factors, policymakers cannot quantify the real benefits of shifting freight from road to rail or waterways.
GLEC Framework and ISO 14083
The Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework, developed by Smart Freight Centre, is the internationally recognized methodology for calculating and reporting logistics emissions across supply chains. ISO 14083, published in 2023, provides the international standard for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from transport operations. Both frameworks provide a common language for shippers, carriers, and governments to measure and compare emissions.
- GLEC Framework version 3.0 covers all transport modes: road, rail, air, sea, and inland waterways
- ISO 14083 harmonises multiple national and regional methodologies into a single global standard
- India-specific emission factors account for differences in vehicle fleet age, fuel quality, road conditions, and load factors
- The whitepaper proposes integrating these standards into India's National Logistics Policy framework
Connection to this news: The SFC-TERI whitepaper argues that India needs to adopt these international standards with local calibration to build credible, transparent freight emissions data, which is a prerequisite for any decarbonisation policy or clean freight programme.
India's Climate Commitments and Transport Sector
India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement target a 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 (from 2005 levels) and 50% cumulative electric power from non-fossil fuel sources. The transport sector, responsible for approximately 14% of India's total CO2 emissions, remains a critical area where these targets must be operationalised.
- India's long-term goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070
- The National Logistics Policy (2022) aims to reduce logistics costs from 14-18% of GDP to global benchmarks of 8%
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan integrates multimodal connectivity for infrastructure planning
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets green hydrogen use in heavy-duty transport
Connection to this news: The 400% projected rise in freight emissions by 2047 directly threatens India's net-zero pathway, making the whitepaper's call for standardised emissions accounting a foundational requirement for tracking progress toward climate targets.
Key Facts & Data
- Business-as-usual freight CO2 emissions could rise 400% from 2017 to 2047
- Freight activity (ton-km) projected to increase over 500% in the same period
- Road freight accounts for 79% of freight movement and 95% of freight CO2 emissions
- Rail emits 28g CO2/ton-km versus 64g for road transport
- SFC India programme launched in May 2023 to reverse projected emissions growth
- Whitepaper proposes alignment with ISO 14083 and GLEC Framework with India-specific emission factors