Last week, the Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, in collaboration with C40 Cities, launched the Laneshift Initiative for Zero Emission Freight Vehicles in Mexico City.
The Environment and Mobility Secretaries representatives, along with representatives from Amazon and C40 Cities, attended the launch event, marking a significant step forward in the city’s commitment to decarbonising freight transport and improving air quality.
In Mexico City, where 58% of greenhouse gas emissions come from transport (CDMX SEDEMA emissions inventory), the Laneshift Initiative will collaborate with the Environment Ministry (SEDEMA) to encourage lower tailpipe emissions in freight transport. The partnership will accelerate the development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and the deployment of EV heavy-duty trucks to reduce emissions, help improve air quality and create green jobs.
The Laneshift Initiative will build on previous city programmes, including the Electromobility Self-Regulation Programme, which began in 2022 and promotes electromobility for light-duty vehicles in Mexico City. It has since added three firms and almost 500 electric vehicles (SEDEMA, 2022). Switching to EVs provides both fiscal and operating benefits, which drive down freight operations costs.
Sergio Zirath Hernández, General Director of Air Quality at the Secretary of the Environment of Mexico City, said: “Mexico City was invited to participate in the Laneshift initiative as part of its efforts to reduce emissions from freight transportation, as this administration has implemented two major programs to improve the technological conditions of the vehicles now used for goods delivery. We are expecting an impactful milestone in this partnership not only on freight decarbonisation, we expect environmental, social and health impacts on improving air quality, and this leads into a more sustainable and livable urban environment for all.”
Gabriel Tenenbaum, C40 Cities Head of Zero Emission Vehicles in Latin America, said: “C40 estimates that in 2021, 4.4 thousand deaths were attributed to air pollution in Mexico City. The Laneshift Initiative promotes successful zero-emission freight business cases to shift this paradigm in the city. Through Laneshift, we want to celebrate and incentivise participation in the Electromobility Self-Regulation Program and demonstrate this transition can provide significant economic and operational benefits to businesses while additionally contributing to improving air quality, reducing noise pollution and supporting the local economy, all of which are highly significant for residents in Mexico City.”
Rodrigo Muñoz, Regional Director of Amazon Mexico, said: “We’re proud to be bringing the Laneshift initiative to Mexico to help speed up the deployment of zero tail-pipe emission freight vehicles in Mexico City, which will ultimately help with the city’s decarbonisation goals. Partnerships like these also impact the customers and communities we serve in Mexico, who will benefit from the faster transition to EV trucks and decreased reliance on fossil fuels.”