At Aidex 2024, Fleet Forum hosted a panel session in which senior leaders from humanitarian organisations gathered to review their collective progress on reducing fleet emissions and reaffirm their commitment to sustainability. Panelists included Anita Raman (Senior Sustainability Advisor at the International Rescue Committee), Leila Lecapitaine (Global Sustainability Supply Chain Coordinator at Danish Refugee Council), Catriona Crawshaw (Head of Supply Chain at Plan International), and Neil Creswick (Director of Global Fleet Management at World Vision International). The session highlighted the progress made since the signing of Fleet Forum’s sustainability commitments and set the stage for future actions.
The Power of Commitment
In 2023, 40 organisations united under the Fleet Forum banner to formalise a series of sustainability commitments aimed at reducing the environmental impact of their fleets. These commitments, which range from setting a baseline and targets emissions, participate in vehicle sharing project and replace the existing fleet with vehicles with lesser emissions serve as a foundation for driving meaningful change in the humanitarian sector.
Neil Creswick emphasised the significance of these pledges: “Signing the commitments forced us to take action.” Leila Lecapitaine added that joining Fleet Forum helped push leadership in her organisation to adopt more sustainable fleet management practices. This underscores the value of collective action in bringing sustainability to the forefront of organisational priorities.
Achievements in the First Year
The first year following the adoption of the Fleet Forum commitments saw notable progress. Anita Raman was excited to share that 18 organisations participated in a comprehensive baseline study—one of the largest of its kind for fleet emissions. This collaborative data collection allowed organisations to compare their performance and identify opportunities for improvement. “It was great that everyone shared data and that we could compare ourselves, using that as a catalyst,” she said.
Neil highlighted a successful pilot project in Kenya that used data to identify strategies for reducing emissions. The project not only improved fleet performance but also earned recognition through the Best Transport Achievement Award.
Best Practices for Reducing Emissions
The panelists shared a range of best practices aimed at curbing fleet emissions. Leila spoke about her organisation’s rightsizing and right-profiling initiatives, which align vehicle needs with program requirements while embedding the Avoid-Shift-Improve methodology. Catriona Crawshaw explained that over the last four years, her organisation has been on a data maturity journey to improve fleet management, leading to a reduction in overspeeding in country offices.
Anita discussed the implementation of eco-driving practices in Nigeria, where shuttle services and improved journey planning have led to significant reductions in emissions. “The most sustainable mile is the mile not driven, and the next best is the mile shared,” she said.
Leila shared insights on how a change management approach—starting with voluntary recommendations and gradually introducing mandatory practices—has been effective in building a culture of sustainability. By creating a fleet community and benchmarking progress, her organisation is continually improving its carbon baseline.
Collaborating for Greater Impact
Collaboration is a key theme within the Fleet Forum community, and one area of focus is vehicle sharing. The community set a target to have 20% of member organisations participating in vehicle-sharing initiatives within three years. Leila shared a successful example from Lebanon, where 10 organisations have come together to share vehicles. This initiative has not only reduced environmental impact but also lowered costs, making it a win-win for all involved.
However, the panel acknowledged that vehicle sharing isn’t without challenges. Resistance from staff who are hesitant to share vehicles remains a barrier, but the panelists agreed that once sharing initiatives are successful in one location, they can be replicated elsewhere.
Engaging Leadership and Overcoming Barriers
The role of leadership emerged as a critical factor in the success of fleet sustainability initiatives. Leila emphasized the importance of providing leadership with clear data, such as baseline emissions figures, to make the case for change. Catriona linked fleet sustainability to broader organisational concerns, such as climate change and donor priorities, which helped elevate the issue on the leadership agenda.
Anita reminded the audience of IRC’s legacy of mobility and resilience, dating back to the founding of the organisation in 1934. She framed fleet sustainability as an extension of this history, urging organisations to stay focused on reducing emissions while adapting to evolving operating environments.
Supporting Fleet Sustainability Through Donors and Research
Donors also play a significant role in driving sustainability within the humanitarian sector. Leila called on donors to include sustainability requirements in their funding criteria, highlighting DG ECHO as a leader in this area. By aligning their requirements and pooling resources, donors can provide the financial backing necessary to achieve the sector’s sustainability goals.
Research institutions can also support fleet managers by simplifying research findings and making them accessible to practitioners on the ground. Neil pointed out that humanitarian organisations often face similar challenges, and research on the cost benefits of sustainability interventions would be particularly valuable.
A Call to Action
As the panel wrapped up, each speaker delivered a call to action for the Fleet Forum community. Neil encouraged organisations to take small steps, emphasizing that even modest actions can make a difference. Catriona urged organisations to embrace data-driven decision-making and continue working together to amplify their impact. Leila closed by reminding leadership to empower local and national staff to take charge of fleet sustainability.
The Fleet Forum community is on its way to achieving its ambitious sustainability goals, but there’s still much work to be done. With continued collaboration, support from donors, and a commitment to learning from each other, the humanitarian sector can drive even greater progress in reducing fleet emissions in the years ahead.
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