E-commerce deliveries may emit 80L tonne CO2 annually in India by 2030: Report

Nagpur: Indian e-commerce market is expected to witness a tenfold increase from current levels of 400 crore parcels delivered annually to 4,000 crores parcels delivered a year by 2030, with total annual emissions from the sector being 80 lakh tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is the equivalent to emissions from 16.5 lakh petrol cars driven for a year or the emissions from 20 gas-fired power plants.
This was revealed in the latest research report by the global Clean Mobility Collective (CMC) and Stand.earth Research Group (SRG).Highlighting that the global e-commerce market is anticipated to witness substantial growth, the report predicts that the global annual e-commerce emissions related to last-mile delivery alone could rise to as high as 1,60,000 tonne of CO2 per year by 2030. “To sequester the last-mile delivery sector emissions for last year alone, over 100 crore trees would need to be planted every year, allowing them to grow for a decade,” the report stated.
Researchers further found that in a business-as-usual scenario from 2023 to 2030, the major international and domestic players in the Indian logistics’ market will collectively contribute an additional 17 million tonne of CO2 emissions. “Most companies examined globally lack strong commitments to reduce their emissions by 2030,” the report found.
Stating that unabated growth of last-mile delivery will have significant climate and health impacts, SRG Investigative Researcher Devyani Singh said, “A top player in the sector has announced net zero 2040 plans. Based on this new research, not only are the plans too weak and a decade too late, but the company also discloses far less information on last-mile delivery than its e-commerce peers about its progress. Last-mile delivery companies must urgently commit to 100% zero-emission deliveries by 2030 and begin fully disclosing their emissions and progress in transitioning to clean transportation.”
The report goes further to highlight the health and air pollution impacts worldwide from e-commerce deliveries and finds that over the next eight years from 2023-2030, e-commerce companies’ last-mile emissions are projected to contribute to health impacts significantly. “Emissions affect our health and our children’s health. There is a clear and urgent need for e-commerce companies to come clean about their emissions – and to commit to clear, time-bound plans to move to 100% zero-emissions deliveries by 2030,” said Avijit Michael, managing trustee and executive director of Jhatkaa.org.