Pittsburgh, 23 September 2022
ZERO-EMISSION GOVERNMENT FLEET DECLARATION
The Paris Agreement has laid down the foundation for collective efforts to limit the increase in the
global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit
the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, and that the world’s attention is now
on the concrete policies and measures that will allow governments to meet this goal;
Greenhouse-gas emissions from the road transport sector are anticipated to rise from today’s levels
by more than 5 percent by 2030 and to decline back to current levels by 2050 unless major action is
undertaken;
Changing this transport emissions trajectory involves, among other measures and in conjunction with
broader sustainable transport principles, a global shift towards zero emission vehicles 1;
Carbon-free electricity and fuels increase zero-emissions vehicles’ contributions to climate action, and
it is important that countries accelerate the transition to carbon-free energy.
National governments play a catalytic role in accelerating the economy-wide transition to sustainable
transportation, because their vehicle procurement decisions have direct emissions impacts, send
demand signals that drive technology and move markets, lower costs for other consumers, and
demonstrate leadership by example;
Governments’ commitments to advance the shift through the introduction of new ambitious targets
and policies and their engagement in multilateral efforts, such as through the CEM Electric Vehicles
Initiative (EVI) are important to further accelerate the transition;
The intentions of this declaration will be integrated into the EVI Workplan for 2022-23 to facilitate
further exchanges between governments on how to best the design and implement policies aiming to
increase the public procurement of zero-emission vehicles. We declare:
-We, the undersigned governments, are committed to significantly reducing carbon and air pollutant
emissions from vehicles and catalyzing the clean transportation economy by accelerating the
introduction and adoption of zero-emission vehicles, in all vehicle classes, in our own fleets.
We aim at 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions of our civil government owned
and operated fleet – and aspire towards 100 percent zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle
acquisitions – by no later than 2035.
We also aim to procure zero-emission light-duty vehicles when operating abroad as far as possible.
We will work with other actors, such as subnational governments and private organizations, to echo
our commitment and spearhead a short-term shift towards zero-emission fleets (bus, taxis, municipal
and corporate fleets).
1

Zero tailpipe emissions vehicle

-Australia
The Australian Government has also made significant commitments to lowering carbon emissions via
measures including a National Electric Vehicle Strategy and maximising electric vehicle charging
infrastructure through the Driving the Nation Fund.
These commitments form part of the Australian Government’s broader step up in climate ambition.
The Government has raised Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target to 43 per cent below 2005
levels, and reaffirmed the commitment to reach net zero by 2050. These targets have been enshrined
in an updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC and in Australian federal legislation.
To deliver on these targets, the Government will implement a range of measures under its Powering
Australia policy. This includes investing $20 billion through Rewiring the Nation to upgrade the
electricity grid and increase the share of renewables in the National Electricity Market to 82 per cent
by 2030. This will complement other measures to support the uptake of low emissions vehicles in
Australia.
Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to leadership in greening government operations, with a goal
of net-zero emissions by 2050. The Government of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy includes
commitments to adopt low-carbon mobility solutions, deploy supporting infrastructure in its facilities
and modernize its fleets. It requires that at least 75% of all light duty vehicle purchases are zeroemission vehicles (ZEVs) or hybrids, with the objective that the light-duty fleet comprises 100% ZEVs
by 2030. This commitment applies to non-tactical vehicles where suitable options are available and
considers operational feasibility.
Canada has also committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 from its national safety and security
operations, and by 2023 departments will develop and regularly update Operational Fleet
Decarbonization Plans that outline how they will reduce their emissions in line with the 2050 target.
To further drive down fleet emissions, Canada has committed to using 100% clean electricity for its
operations by 2025 at the latest, and to green its fleet procurement processes and adopt clean
technologies and solutions. Canada has also launched a Low-Carbon Fuel Procurement program to
support the decarbonization of its air and marine operations.
The Government of Canada also collaborates with other levels of government to encourage the use of
ZEVs in their operations, through the establishment of best-practices and sharing of the experiences
learned from early adopters. To this end, in 2021 Canada launched the Buyers for Climate Action
coalition to help drive the transition to a green, net-zero carbon economy by collaborating on green
procurement.

Germany
In the interests of sustainable government, since 2010 the German Government has set specific targets
under what is known as the Programme of Sustainability Measures. From the beginning it included
measures to lower greenhouse gas emissions from our operations. The Federal Climate Change Act
coming into force in 2019, explicitly highlights the role model function of public authorities. A binding
target was set, so that the federal administration is to be organized climate-neutral by 2030.
Procurement of government fleets is regulated by the EU Clean Vehicles Directive. Furthermore the
current version of the Programme of Sustainability Measures sets a target for light-duty vehicles: 100%
of all new or replacement procurements shall have alternative environmentally friendly drive
technologies by 2030. The stock of fossil fueled vehicles is gradually being replaced by e-vehicles. By
2025, at least 50% of the vehicles will have electric drives.
These procurement targets are accompanied by deployment of renewable energies on federal
buildings. If possible, 30 percent by 2025 and all existing potential for the development and expansion
of photovoltaic systems by 2030 shall be used. By the end of 2024, the entire electricity demand in
excess of self-generated electricity and purchased from the power grid will be covered by 100 percent
green electricity (approximately two TWh).
Israel
Towards the ending of the year 2021, the Government of Israel in its decision no. 254, has
acknowledged the Accountant General`s announcement in which, starting from the year 2022, all
passenger vehicles that would be purchased by the Governmental Vehicle Administration (GVA) would
be vehicles with hybrid fuel engines, and starting from the year 2025, all passenger vehicles that would
be purchased by the Governmental Vehicle Administration (GVA) would be electric vehicles.
The Government Fleet, is comprised of more than 15,000 vehicles, nationwide, of the Israeli Police
Department, the Department of Correction, the Fire Department and the different Government
Ministries. The GVA framework agreements are also being used for vehicles procurement by local
authorities, municipalities, government companies and more, and so, this policy ripples outwards of
the government fleet circle.
We intend to include more zero-emission categories in our Fleet procurement plans, including medium
and heavy duty vehicles, once the option will be available.
It is our explicit aim, to encourage the private sector to join hands with the government, in order to
promote new technologies in the field of green fleets, and taking point in this important endeavor, to
tackle with the harming effects of polluting government vehicles.
We are proud to stand here, alongside our fellow colleagues as first line, in the fight against climate
change.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is ambitious in reducing carbon missions, including those from transport. We strive
to be climate neutral in 2050. Measures to promote electric vehicles, sustainable transport fuels,

sustainable logistics and active mobility are enshrined in our national Climate Agreement 2 (2019)
Sustainable public procurement is an important policy tool that contributes to the ambitions in our
climate policy. We have a wide range of sustainable public procurement policies and initiatives:
1. Our national government light-duty civil vehicle fleet will be fully zero emission by 2028.
2. The public transport bus fleet will be zero emission by 2030, which are in most cases
procured by regional governments or cities. This ambition has been embedded in the zero
emission bus agreement 3, between the national government, the regional governments, the
public transport regions and the electricity grid operators. It is supported by various subsidies
(national 4 and European5).
3. The Dutch taxi fleet will be 50% zero emission by 2025. This is enshrined in the agreement
between the national government, regional and local governments, energy producers,
energy grid operators and the private sector in the agreement on zero emission special
transportation.
4. In 2030 all new public sanitation vehicles, such as garbage trucks, will be zero emission.
5. Under our Clean and Zero Emission Construction Program, we aim to set minimum emission
standards for the public procurement of equipment used at construction sites.
6. The Netherlands is also currently implementing the obligations of the European Clean
Vehicle Directive . This European Directive contains obligations for the procurement of
certain categories of clean vehicles for 2025 (e.g. cars, vans, busses and trucks), and strickter
obiligations between 2025-2030. We are currently looking at how we can incorporate the
higher ambitions of our national climate agreement in the legal obligations stemming from
this EU directive.
The Netherlands will make all endeavours to meet the aims and aspirations of this Declaration, with
the understanding that they pertain to the civil vehicle fleet of the national government.
New Zealand
The New Zealand Government has adopted the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP), with
the aim to make a number of organisations within the public sector carbon neutral from 2025. A key
requirement of the programme is for agencies to optimise their light vehicle fleets and transition to
EVs, unless prevented from doing so by operational requirements, by the end of 2025.
To support government organisations with the transition, the New Zealand Government has set up the
State Sector Decarbonisation Fund, committing $220 million to replace fossil-fuelled boilers in
hospitals and tertiary institutions with low-emissions alternatives, replacing vehicle fleets with electric
vehicles, and installing energy-efficient chillers and LED lighting. The Government has also committed
an additional $41.8 million of funding to support fleet optimisation and the leasing of electric vehicles.
Definitions - New Zealand’s definition of “Light-duty” vehicles are those that have a maximum gross
vehicle mass of less than 3.5 tonnes, including passenger and commercial vehicles such as cars, vans,
utility vehicles, and 4WDs, but excluding motorbikes, mopeds, and trailers. New Zealand’s definition

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2019/06/28/klimaatakkoord
https://zeroemissiebus.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Bestuursakkoord_Zero_OV-Bus.pdf
4
https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/spuk-zebus
5
https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility
2
3

of civil government is those agencies required to apply the New Zealand Government Procurement
Rules.
Caveats - The expectations signalled in the Declaration, and by New Zealand in signing the Declaration,
are subject to appropriate fit-for-purpose zero-emission right-hand drive vehicles available in the New
Zealand market by 2035. Although it is a non-binding commitment, New Zealand will make all
endeavours to meet the aims and aspirations of the Declaration.
Norway
Large tax exemptions and other incentives, such as reduced road tolls, ferry fares and free parking,
have changed consumer preference. This is the main reason why Norway has the world’s fastest
transition to zero-emission road transport. So far this year (by September 2022) 76 percent of new
passenger cars sold are fully battery electric and close to 18 percent of the car fleet is now fully electric.
The Norwegian Government has established the following goals for zero- and low-emission vehicles:
By 2025:
•
•

All new passenger cars and light vans should be zero-emission vehicles.
All new city buses should be zero-emission vehicles or use biogas.

By 2030:
• All new heavy vans, 75 % of new long-distance buses, and 50 % of new lorries should be zeroemission vehicles.
Improvements in zero-emission technologies is an important prerequisite for the ambitions.
Climate-related requirements in public procurement processes are important. Requirements for zeroemission solutions was introduced this year for public purchase of passenger cars in 2022, LCVs in
2023, and for local buses from 2025. We are now considering to implement requirements for heavy
vans and we will analyze the opportunities for requirements towards heavy duty vehicles.
Sweden
Sweden has ambitious climate policy goals. By 2045, Sweden is to have zero net-emissions of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. To reach this goal, the transport sector’s emissions need to be
in principle zero by 2045. Sweden also has an intermediate target that the emissions from domestic
transport - with the exception of domestic flights - should be reduced by at least 70 per cent by 2030
compared with 2010 levels. The current national climate policy action plan states that the transport
sector has great opportunities to reduce emissions through transport efficiency, electrification,
sustainable renewable fuels and energy-efficient vehicles. To reach the goals, road transport should,
in the long-term, mainly be electrified. Public procurement is an important strategic tool in the
transition to a circular and fossil-free economy. The Swedish government and its agencies have a pivot
role in the green transition. With ambitious criteria for goods and services in their procurement, the
government can lead the way and contribute to the creation of the green jobs of the future.

United States
The United States Federal Government is leading by example to catalyze a carbon pollution-free
electricity sector in America by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than
2050. Through a coordinated whole-of-government approach, the Federal Government is using its
scale and procurement power to secure a transition to clean, zero-emissions technologies, including
for vehicles.
In 2021, the Federal Government established a goal that 100 percent of vehicle acquisitions for its over
600,000 vehicles Federal government fleet, across all vehicle classes, will be zero-emission vehicles by
2035. For light-duty vehicles, 100 percent of acquisitions will be zero-emission vehicles by 2027. This
goal applies to all domestic non-tactical vehicles, owned and operated by civilian and military agencies.
The Federal Government’s vehicle procurement efforts are complemented by an ambitious
commitment that Federal government operations will use 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity
on a net annual basis by 2030, including 50 percent 24/7 carbon pollution-free electricity, and that the
Federal government will catalyze investment in clean energy industries.
The Federal Government supports and applauds the public commitments to fleet electrification made
by States, Tribes, localities, and companies around the nation. The Federal Government will continue
its efforts to coordinate with states, tribes, and local governments to facilitate wider adoption of zeroemission vehicles. By working together, Federal, State, Tribal, and local leadership can promote electric
vehicle innovation and adoption and expand our national electric vehicle infrastructure, all while
supporting the growth of the clean energy economy.