COP27: Netherlands and Sweden join ZE Government Fleet Declaration

At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27), Sweden and the Netherlands became the latest nations to join the United States and partners in a public commitment to transition their government owned and operated fleets to zero-emission vehicles across all vehicle classes.

During a COP27 event, White House Council on Environmental Quality Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock announced that a total of eight countries have now joined the United States in this commitment, which includes medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Countries that have endorsed the Zero-Emission Government Fleet Declaration include: Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States.

“National governments are often a nation’s largest fleet owner. Leading the way by going electric can accelerate an entire country’s move toward cleaner transportation,” said U.S. Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock. “This is what climate leadership is all about. I applaud our fellow Zero-Emission Government Fleet nations for stepping up and I am excited to see the results of international collaboration forged through this initiative.”

Launched by the United States in September 2022 at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum under the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Electric Vehicle Initiative, the Zero-Emission Government Fleet Declaration aims to reduce carbon and air pollutant emissions from government fleets and expedite the transition to clean transportation around the world. By signing the Declaration, supporting governments commit to 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions for their government owned and operated fleet and aspire towards 100 percent zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle acquisitions by no later than 2035.

By transitioning a large vehicle fleet to a low- or zero-emissions fleet, a country can significantly cut its emissions, spur technological innovations, and drive down product manufacturing costs, which in turn can fuel additional consumer demand for electric vehicles. For its fleet of 600,000 vehicles, the U.S. Federal Government is on track to meet President Biden’s goal of 100 percent zero-emission vehicle acquisitions for light duty vehicles by 2027 and for all vehicle classes by 2035.

Learn more about the EVI Zero-Emission Government Fleet Declaration at https://www.sustainability.gov/federalsustainabilityplan/global-initiatives.html and https://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/initiatives-campaigns/electric-vehicles-initiative/