Bringing Sustainable Transportation to the World

Cities around the world could soon be tapping shipping giant FedEx’s logistical expertise as they develop more sustainable transportation systems. The company is joining forces with EMBARQ, The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport, and will spend $500,000 over the next two years to help support the program’s efforts in Mexico.

Why Mexico? There are a few reasons. First, EMBARQ launched there, and its work in Mexico City over the past eight years has helped inform work done by its other centers throughout the world. It also has strong partnerships with government and private agencies throughout the country.

Mexico’s role as the host of the next big global climate summit starting in late November may have attracted FedEx’s attention, as well. In addition to its work in the country’s capital, EMBARQ is currently working with officials in Cancun, where the next major climate summit is rumored to be planned for 2010. Last year, EMBARQ helped Cancun officials craft a roadmap for sustainable transportation, and they’re now looking at ways to quickly improve the city’s transportation system if the UNFCCC Conference of Parties meeting is held there.

Mexico was EMBARQ’s first target because it had great challenges to address and the EMBARQ team had the local connections and understanding needed to address those challenges, said Nancy Kete, director of EMBARQ.

The program’s Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México) was the first of several such centers that now form a global network of sustainable transport centers, of which EMBARQ is the hub.

From 2002 to 2005, EMBARQ and CTS-México conducted several studies and projects in Mexico City, including a pilot demonstration of the potential of low-sulfur fuels to reduce pollution in the city, and a major bus rapid transit (BRT) study that culminated in the unveiling in June 2005 of a 28-kilometer high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the city. Operating in a dedicated lane on rubber wheels, the BRT buses carry about 800,000 passengers a day on average. Perhaps more importantly, according to Kete, those passengers come from every socio-economic class in the city.

The BRT system and low-sulfur fuels have resulted in significant reductions in particulate matter, carbon dioxide emissions, and local air pollutants such as benzene and carbon monoxide. According to Kete, Mexico City residents who were tested for exposure to pollutants before and after the launch of the BRT system are now exposed to 50 to 60 percent fewer air pollutants on average than they were prior to the launch of the system.

The success of EMBARQ’s work in Mexico City has led to similar projects in other Mexican cities. With EMBARQ’s help, the city of Guadalajara launched a BRT system in March 2009 and is now working on a second BRT corridor. The program is now looking at taking lessons learned in Mexico City to other cities and towns in Mexico and that’s where FedEx and not only its money but also its expertise will come into play. With talk of the next COP meeting happening in Cancun now instead of Mexico City, EMBARQ is talking to city officials there about quickly improving its transportation system.

FedEx isn’t the only private company involved in EMBARQ. Equipment manufacturer Caterpillar is a global sponsor of the program, and founding donor The Shell Foundation is related to Royal Dutch Shell, the energy company.

“It’s not a trivial thing for a nonprofit to work with a corporate foundation or a corporation — you have to be very careful,” Kete says.

In the case of FedEx, in addition to funds the company will be sharing its experience.