Institutionalizing Freight Emissions Accounting in India: Pathways for Clean Freight Programs and Policy Integration
Freight transport is the backbone of India’s economy, but it is also one of the most emissions-intensive parts of the transport system. Despite accounting for a small share of the vehicle fleet, road freight contributes disproportionately to greenhouse gas and air-pollution emissions. As freight demand continues to grow, the absence of credible, standardised emissions measurement risks locking in high emissions for decades. Robust freight emissions accounting is therefore a critical first step toward enabling effective decarbonisation, improving air quality, and aligning logistics growth with India’s climate goals.
This joint white paper by TERI and SFC India aims to highlight the critical role of standardised freight emissions accounting in India, outlining pathways to institutionalise credible, decision-useful measurement frameworks that can support clean freight programs, informed policy design, and India’s broader climate and air-quality objectives.