LEARN International Workshop

LEARN International Workshop

Empowering business to reduce their carbon footprint through emissions accounting 

The consortium partners of the LEARN project organized the LEARN International Workshop on 4 and 5 April 2017 in Brussels. The event brought together private sector, government and civil society stakeholders with an interest in reducing the carbon footprint of the global freight and logistics sector.

The workshop introduced the LEARN project, partners and activities, collected feedback from stakeholders, explored how we can work together to maximize business uptake of carbon accounting and reduction and take steps to link through to the policy agenda. 

The main message during the event was that businesses want to move on from methodology development to its application in practice. The LEARN project can support businesses as follows:

  • Methodologies: get the GLEC Framework applied in practice, taking into account SMEs and developing regions, and use this experience to develop version 2.0.
  • Data collection and exchange: do not give preference to one form but make sure that a harmonized emission calculation methods fit with all options. Ensure that CO2 is included as a KPI in broader ICT systems for logistics operations, such as developed under the EC-projects AEOLIX and Selis, and Blockchain.
  • Verification: develop verification guidelines that builds on existing assurance standards and adds considerations for verifying logistics emissions. By extension, verifiers can involve experienced assurance providers and people with a more technical background.
  • Label: determine the best option to communicate emissions data to users. As the focus of logistics emissions data is business-to-business, a declaration that communicates data may be sufficient. This declaration can then be used by businesses, green freight programs and other initiatives, and product labels such as EnergyStar.
  • Stakeholders and networks: Stakeholders should all be involved in emissions accounting and reductions but have different roles to play. LEARN is forming a ‘network of networks’ around logistics emissions accounting and reduction.
     


For the full LEARN International Workshop report click here!  


4 April:  Introducing the LEARN Project, understanding business needs and stakeholder roles

12:00 - Registration, sandwich lunch and networking 

13:00 - Welcome

13:10 - Introducing the LEARN project

13:45 - How to empower businesses to improve logistics emissions measurement, reporting and verification
Moderator: Denis Choumert, European Shippers Council
Panel Discussion:

  • USEPA - Karl Simon, Director Transport and Climate Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality
  • HP - Blair Chikasuye, Global Logistics Sustainability Manager 
  • Heineken - Anne Dubost, Global Lead Logistics & Sustainability
  • DLR Institute of Transport Research - Verena Ehrler
  • Zaragoza Logistics Center - Susana Val, Associate Research Professor and Transport Research Group Manager
  • Connekt/Lean and Green - Nico Anten, Managing Director

15:00 - Break

15:30 - Live voting session: how can different stakeholders help maximize business uptake of logistics carbon accounting and reduction?
Moderators: Iraklis Stamos, Project Manager, IRU projects & Eszter Toth-Weedon, Industry Relations Manager, Smart Freight Centre
Stakeholder groups covered:

  • Business, associations & business networks
  • Programs & initiatives, international organizations and forums
  • Research, standardization & certification bodies
  • Governments

17:00 - Close and drinks reception

 

5 April: Clarify and align stakeholders around four concepts underpinning the LEARN project

09:00 - Introducing Day 2 agenda

09:05 - What is required for effective emissions accounting and reduction - the government perspective
Karl Simon, Director Transport and Climate Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, USEPA 

09:45 - (1) Methodology development for logistics emissions measurement
Align methodologies and interpretative rules, and develop harmonized guidelines – Alan Lewis, Smart Freight Centre
Panelists remarks:

10:30 - Break

11:00 - (2) Data collection and exchange
Possible mechanisms for data collection interfaces and exchange – Sophie Punte, Smart Freight Centre
Panelists remarks: 

  • Procter & Gamble - Sergio Barbarino, Research Fellow
  • DPDHL - Patric Pütz, Senior Expert Shared Value / GoGreen
  • AEOLIX & Ertico - Lina Konstantinopoulou, Senior Manager ITS Europe
  • TNO Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research - Richard Smokers, Principal Advisor Sustainable Transport & Logistics
  • BSR's Clean Cargo Working Group - Nathan Springer, Manager Advisor Services
  • Input from workshop participants

12:45 - Lunch

13:45 - (3) Verification and certification
Verification of the methodology application, quality of calculations and/or the reliability of data – Colin Smith,
Energy Saving Trust
Panelists remarks: 

  • ADEME France - Marc Cottignies, Expert Engineer, Transport and Mobility Services
  • NEN (Nederlands Normalisatieinstituut) - Arthur Carlebur, Industry Consultant
  • ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS) - Jennifer Iansen-Rogers, CSR Partner
  • Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) - Sebastian Backström, Senior Project Manager
  • Input from workshop participants

15:00 - Break

15:30 - (4) Ecolabels to reward business
Explore conditions for ecolabels – Stewart Muir, Energy Saving Trust
Panelists remarks: 

  • Clean Air Asia - Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director
  • International Association for Ports and Harbors (IAPH) - Fer van der Laar, Managing Director
  • Michelin Europe, Corporate Public Affairs - Arnaud Chatin, Head of EU Represenation Office
  • Airports Council International (ACI) Europe - Marina Bylinsky, Environmental Strategy & Intermodality
  • Input from workshop participants

16:45 - Summary and next steps

17:00 - Close

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