Business solutions for climate: Transportation

At this very second, 9,728 planes are flying, meaning 1.3 million persons are up in the air. Now more than ever, distance might not seem so important as you can go everywhere in the world in just a few hours. Yet, transport often means pollution. It’s time to challenge the reasons why we travel so much and imagine a cleaner transportation sector! Discover three initiatives that offer solutions to transform the transportation sector into a cleaner one on #Ideas4Climate.

During COP24, 20 leading business newspapers feature innovative solutions to switch to a low-carbon economy. The international collaborative journalism operation Solutions and Co involves 20 international newspapers including The Financial Times, Les Echos, Kommersant, Hindu Business Line, Yicai Global, and El Economista. SolutionsAndCo is coordinated by Sparknews with the support of the Solar Impulse Foundation, the Climate Groupe, and UN Global Compact France.

In India, Three Wheels United, creates an affordable alternative to rickshaw helping drivers switch to electric vehicles

There are 10 million auto-rickshaw drivers in India operating a fleet of approximately 5 million auto-rickshaws. They contribute to 1% of CO2 and 13–40% of particulate emissions in India, a country that possesses 22 out of the world’s 50 most polluted cities. Three Wheels United provides a financing service for three-wheel electric vehicles, in order to reduce pollution and CO2 emissions in Indian cities while improving the lives and financial inclusion of drivers. Through cutting-edge technology, they are able to reduce risk and give fair interest rates on loans — allowing autorickshaw drivers to access their own green assets and double their profits. Read more on Yicai Global, The Hindu Business Line, Ventures Africa, El Economista (in Spanish) Valor Econômico (in Portuguese), Les Echos and L’Economiste du Maroc (in French).

In Spain, electro-mobility is booming as the network of charging stations is being expanded at a very fast pace

Spain is committed to reduce by 26% its greenhouse gases emission by 2030 — and between 80% and 95% before 2050. One of the keys to achieve this is transport. It will be necessary to renew the vehicles on the streets and, above all, to extend the electric recharging infrastructure. The big energy companies have started designing charging infrastructures to give greater autonomy to the electric vehicle. Iberdrola, for instance, has started deploying the largest network of fast charging stations. Other companies have gone a little further and have made public their intention to install poles at no cost for communities. Read more on Yicai Global, Hong Kong Economic Journal, The Hindu Business Line, El Economista, Cinco Días (in Spanish) and Les Echos (in French).

In Italy, the startup GreenRail is turning end-of-life tires into railway sleepers in order to tackle waste and pollution

Greenrail, a Milan-based company, has found a way to use a blend of rubber collected from ELTs (End of Life Tires) and plastic from urban waste to make railway sleepers. The company makes it possible to upcycle non-recyclable and highly polluting waste (tires) while remaining highly competitive. Their eco-sustainable sleepers are suitable for any type of line: subway, local trains or high speed. Thanks to their solution, 35 tonnes of waste get recycled for each kilometre of « greenrail ». The company has designed two other smart products, Greenrail Solar and Greenrail LinkBox: the first incorporates photovoltaic panels in the sleepers for solar energy harvesting; the second will be able to diagnose and transmit line security data. Read more on Yicai Global, Ventures Africa, Hindu Business Line, Il Sole (in Italian), L’Economiste du Maroc (in French) and Valor Economico (in Portuguese).

Op-ed by Monica Araya, Vice President of Costa Rica’s Electric Mobility Association & Founder of the grassroots association Costa Rica Limpia

Monica Arya analyses the economy of Costa Rica, a country which has achieved renewable electricity and tackled deforestation while increasing the economy. She presents the next steps that could be undertaken in order for Costa Rica to decarbonize its economic system on a wider level and become a fossil-free country. Read more on Solutions&Co.

Op-ed by Gabriel Plassat, Director of La Fabrique des mobilités

In his op-ed, Gabriel Plassat highlights the importance of being imaginative in order to afford more perspectives concerning the transportation sector and therefore in order to diversify the mobility. Creating a new ecosystem for mobility is fundamental in order to create a cleaner transportation sector. Read more on Solutions&Co.

You — readers, citizens, leaders, investors, consumers — can help to spread and magnify the effects of these solutions, so that tomorrow’s economy becomes a truly sustainable one.