2022 Transport Benchmark

Measuring 90 of the world's largest transportation companies on their progress towards decarbonisation and just transition

The World Benchmarking Alliance’s fourth Climate and Energy Benchmark measures and ranks the world’s 90 most influential transport companies on their just and equitable low-carbon transition.

The Transport Benchmark is the first comprehensive assessment of companies in the sector that combines the ACT assessment and the just transition and social assessment to provide an overall score and ranking. By considering social and decarbonisation issues together, the benchmark mobilises stronger action needed to hold companies to account on contributing towards a low-carbon transition that leaves no one behind.

In order for the world to successfully decarbonise by 2030, the top transport companies around the world must accelerate action in creating measurable and transparent goals to progressing on climate goals, just transition and human rights practices.

Five key findings

The results of the Transport Benchmark shows just how needed it is for the transport sector to accelerate action towards decarbonisation now. As a high-emitting sector that accounts for a staggering 37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among all end-use sectors, the transport sector’s role in ensuring if the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement can be achieved is undeniable. Transport companies must accelerate action now towards a just and equitable low-carbon transition. Despite glimpses of good practice in certain areas, the lack of detailed transition plans, targets and financial commitments along with the lack of disclosure on progress inhibits the ability for the transport sector to meet their own commitments on climate. Please read the key findings below.

Key finding

Even though over half of the assessed transport companies have set long-term net-zero targets, their low-carbon transition plans lack detail, depth and intermediate targets. This limits sufficient tracking of their progress towards the Paris goals.

51% (46) of the 90 companies in the benchmark have set net-zero targets. Four out of 90 have 1.5°C targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). However, many of the companies lack interim targets and details in their low-carbon transition plans, which are necessary to demonstrate a credible path to achieving their commitments. Of the companies with net-zero targets, 50% (23) have not conducted scenario analysis, 65% (30) do not include any financial details in their transition plans and 87% (40) have not set any targets between 2030 and their targeted net-zero year. Companies need to back up their commitments with detailed roadmaps showing how they will move forward on a 1.5°C-aligned path.

Key finding

Transport companies are not using enough of their expertise and industry platform to drive key stakeholders to transition in line with the 1.5°C goal. Decisive leadership is needed towards reaching the climate goals, instead of relying on other stakeholders for solutions.

Passenger and freight companies play a critical role in connecting people and supply chains across the world. However, these companies show a disconnected approach when it comes to driving change among the other sectors and stakeholders that are needed for their low-carbon transition. 66% (59) of the 90 assessed companies do not engage with suppliers on environmental issues beyond integrating climate change issues into the supplier code of conduct. A sector that is all about connection needs to show leadership in collaborating with other sectors and stakeholders which will enable its low-carbon transition.

Key finding

Current research and development investments in emerging, unproven technologies and new business models in the transport sector will not close the emissions reduction gap in time.

Transport companies need to make significant investments to shift to low-carbon business activities. Most of the companies in this benchmark fail to disclose sufficient information on research and development (R&D) and capital expenditure. The data available suggests that on average only about 0.3% of total transport-related revenues are reinvested in low-carbon technology and fuel R&D. Companies must act now to invest in the technology and business models that will secure a low-carbon future.

Key finding

The vast majority of transport companies must accelerate necessary action immediately to make the low-carbon transition just and equitable, to prevent placing a workforce of millions at risk.

A ‘just transition’ envisions resilient and thriving workers and communities, existing within the global 1.5oC boundary set out in the Paris Agreement. WBA’s Climate and Energy Benchmark for the Transport sector is the first to holistically rank companies on their contributions to a just and equitable low-carbon transition. It shows a striking and systemic lack of action by companies to prepare for and mitigate the social impacts of decarbonising. Alarmingly, all companies score 0 on just transition planning, placing a workforce of around 10 million people at risk.

Key finding

Only a minority of transport companies demonstrate effective human rights due diligence

Decarbonising the transport sector can be globally transformative, but it also brings a responsibility to ensure decarbonisation is carried out in a socially just way. Respect for human rights and providing and promoting decent work underpins a just transition. Beyond the 10 million or so people estimated to be directly employed by the 90 assessed transport companies, millions more are likely to be affected through the operations and supply chains of these companies. The benchmark highlights a gap between corporate commitments to respect human rights and provide decent work and the processes companies have in place to ensure these in practice. 43% (39) of the companies have a human rights policy commitment, yet only 3% (3) of the companies demonstrate an effective human rights due diligence process.

Find out how the companies performed

View ranking

Where are the 90 companies headquartered?

Locations

Title: Sinotrans
Place: China
Description:
Title: Aeroflot
Place: Russian Federation
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Title: China Southern Airlines
Place: China
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Title: Old Dominion Freight Line
Place: United States of America
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Title: Korean Air Lines
Place: Republic of Korea
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Title: Ryder System
Place: United States of America
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Title: XPO Logistics
Place: United States of America
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Title: China COSCO Shipping
Place: China
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Title: Expeditors
Place: United States of America
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Title: Qatar Airways Group
Place: Qatar
Description:
Title: Air China
Place: China
Description:
Title: Great Eastern Shipping
Place: India
Description:
Title: Yellow Corporation
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: ZTO Express
Place: China
Description:
Title: Grindrod
Place: South Africa
Description:
Title: China Post Group
Place: China
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Title: China State Railway Group Company
Place: China
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Title: Indian Railways
Place: India
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Title: Ethiopian Airlines
Place: Ethiopia
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Title: J&T Express
Place: Indonesia
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Title: ANA Holdings (All Nippon Airways)
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Place: United States of America
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Title: Air France-KLM
Place: France
Description:
Title: Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
Place: Japan
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Title: IndiGo
Place: India
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Title: ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
Place: Israel
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Title: Bolloré
Place: France
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Title: Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Place: Norway
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Title: Evergreen Marine Corporation
Place: Taiwan, China
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Title: CMA CGM
Place: France
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Title: Delta Air Lines
Place: United States of America
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Title: Lufthansa Group
Place: Germany
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Title: Emirates
Place: United Arab Emirates
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Title: Singapore Airlines
Place: Singapore
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Title: Southwest Airlines
Place: United States of America
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Title: C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Place: United States of America
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Title: China Airlines
Place: Taiwan, China
Description:
Title: SG Holdings
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: LATAM Airlines Group
Place: Chile
Description:
Title: JD Logistics
Place: China
Description:
Title: CJ Logistics Corporation
Place: Republic of Korea
Description:
Title: US Postal Service
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: Kuehne + Nagel International
Place: Switzerland
Description:
Title: S.F. Holding
Place: China
Description:
Title: Schneider National
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: Turk Hava Yollari (Turkish Airlines)
Place: Turkey
Description:
Title: U-Ming Marine Transportation Corporation
Place: Taiwan, China
Description:
Title: Nippon Express
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: China Eastern Airlines
Place: China
Description:
Title: Teekay
Place: Canada
Description:
Title: Alaska Air Group
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: FirstGroup
Place: United Kingdom
Description:
Title: NS Groep
Place: Netherlands
Description:
Title: HMM
Place: Republic of Korea
Description:
Title: Royal Mail plc
Place: United Kingdom
Description:
Title: Transdev
Place: France
Description:
Title: Central Japan Railway
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: Deutsche Post DHL Group
Place: Germany
Description:
Title: MISC Group
Place: Malaysia
Description:
Title: International Airlines Group
Place: United Kingdom
Description:
Title: A.P. Moller - Maersk
Place: Denmark
Description:
Title: American Airlines Group
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: Japan Airlines
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: OBB-Holding
Place: Austria
Description:
Title: J.B. Hunt Transport Services
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
Place: Switzerland
Description:
Title: Go-Ahead Group
Place: United Kingdom
Description:
Title: FedEx
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: United Airlines Holdings
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: Euronav
Place: Belgium
Description:
Title: SNCF Group
Place: France
Description:
Title: United Parcel Service (UPS)
Place: United States of America
Description:
Title: Cathay Pacific
Place: Hong Kong, China
Description:
Title: DSV
Place: Denmark
Description:
Title: Ocean Network Express
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: Wan Hai Lines
Place: Taiwan, China
Description:
Title: La Poste Groupe
Place: France
Description:
Title: Rossiyskiye Zheleznye Dorogi (JSC Russian Railways)
Place: Russian Federation
Description:
Title: NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha)
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: Renfe Operadora
Place: Spain
Description:
Title: Tokyu Corporation
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: Yamato Holdings
Place: Japan
Description:
Title: Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Italiane)
Place: Italy
Description:
Title: Hapag Lloyd
Place: Germany
Description:
Title: Ryanair Holdings
Place: Ireland
Description:
Title: Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp
Place: Taiwan, China
Description:
Title: ComfortDelGro Corporation
Place: Singapore
Description:
Title: MTR
Place: Hong Kong, China
Description:
Title: National Express Group
Place: United Kingdom
Description:
Title: Deutsche Bahn
Place: Germany
Description:

2022 Transport Benchmark

Five key findings

Even though over half of the assessed transport companies have set long-term net-zero targets, their low-carbon transition plans lack detail, depth and intermediate targets. This limits sufficient tracking of their progress towards the Paris goals.

Transport companies are not using enough of their expertise and industry platform to drive key stakeholders to transition in line with the 1.5°C goal. Decisive leadership is needed towards reaching the climate goals, instead of relying on other stakeholders for solutions.

Current research and development investments in emerging, unproven technologies and new business models in the transport sector will not close the emissions reduction gap in time.

The vast majority of transport companies must accelerate necessary action immediately to make the low-carbon transition just and equitable, to prevent placing a workforce of millions at risk.

Only a minority of transport companies demonstrate effective human rights due diligence

Find out how the companies performed

Where are the 90 companies headquartered?

Locations

Further reading

Insights Report

CDP and WBA - Technical FAQ's

Benchmark data