Keeling Curve

Primary Project Category:

Project Summary / Description:

Building upon a decade of efforts to kick-start sustainable transportation activities in Latin America, the ZEBRA partnership was launched in 2019 to accelerate deployment of zero emission buses in the region. Led by C40 Cities (C40) and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the programme was created to tackle one of the highest emitting sectors, transportation, in the most urbanised region in the world, where urban bus fleets used by hundreds of millions of residents are still powered by high-polluting diesel engines. Since its inception, ZEBRA has been working to radically transform the zero emission bus market in Latin America by offering direct support to cities (four core cities Medell n, Mexico City, Santiago, S√£o Paulo but many cities engaged), and engaging commercial partners (investors, manufacturers, energy companies, and private operators), strengthening the development of a procurement pipeline of over 4000 e-buses.

Regions of Operations:

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Replaces/avoids GHGs (e.g., projects that replace sources of GHGs, such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transport, or other energy uses)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

The ZEBRA Partnership has a relevant role in responding to the marginalisation of vulnerable groups. In the first place it contributes to improving public transport systems, thus increasing urban access to employment, education, health, social and recreation opportunities. Furthermore, the mobility and energy industry have a significant share in the economic and productivity chains by creating jobs, empowering people, leveraging participation, promoting knowledge, safeguarding the environment and promoting health, safety and security. 
Vulnerable Groups can benefit from three levels of involvement in the ZEBRA Partnership: (1) as users, (2) as indirect beneficiaries among the population and (3) as part of the planning and implementation team and involved actors. 

The public transport users profile in LATAM is mostly composed of vulnerable groups (i.e. majority women, low income people, people of colour). These users benefit from ZEBRA with better bus service quality, less noise and vibration and improved access to jobs, education, health and social opportunities. 
Vulnerable groups, which are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects of climate change, also benefit from improved air quality and therefore better health. 
The ZEBRA team is composed of 50% women and 33% of high-level positions occupied by women. Moreover, the project supports the increase of female e-bus drivers and promotes gender equality in all workshops provided by the project.

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Mission Statement:

ZEBRA's primary goal is to accelerate zero emission bus deployments in four main countries (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Chile), leveraging the interest of manufacturers and investors/financiers worldwide in the fast-growing market of electric buses in Latin America.
The two institutions that co-lead ZEBRA complement each other by leveraging their own set of networks and expertise. On the one hand, C40 Cities is a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis. On the other hand, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) is an independent nonprofit organisation providing first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators worldwide.