Avoid, Shift, Improve Framework
For businesses looking to reduce their transport-related CO2 emissions, the Avoid, Shift, Improve (A-S-I) framework focuses on the mobility needs of the business, instead of vehicle fleet management. This framework, originally devised in 1999, was adopted by the IPCC and is widely used by consultants and facilitators everywhere, including the Irish EPA and Dept of Transport. While businesses should start with the Avoid strategy, a blend of all three is usually the most practical approach:
- Avoid: is there a need to travel e.g. can you reduce the number or lengths of trips
- Shift: if not, aim for a shift towards alternative or lower emission modes of transport
- Improve: then focus on improving performance of vehicles and new fuel technology.
Of course, to reduce carbon emissions, businesses need to accurately measure where they are starting from. Comparing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) across different modes of transport or suppliers is a challenge. Fortunately, the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) developed the GLEC Framework, to inform business decisions that reduce emissions and track progress towards climate goals. The GLEC Framework has been updated in step with external developments, of which the new ISO 14083 standard is one.
Learn more:
ECOfleet - https://www.driverfocus.ie/ecofleet
AEMS - https://aems.ie/blog/asi/
Smart Freight Centre - https://smartfreightcentre.org/en/our-programs/global-logistics-emissions-council/calculate-report-glec-framework/
GLEC Framework - https://smart-freight-centre-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/GLEC_FRAMEWORK_v3_UPDATED_12_10.pdf
Local Authority Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy - https://www.lgma.ie/en/news/ccma-la-fleet-strategy-to-decarbonisation.pdf