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PA Media

‘Defining moment’

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and C40 Cities today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the global transition to zero-emission non-road mobile machinery, beginning with construction equipment. The collaboration will scale city, national, and regional efforts to replace diesel-powered machinery with electric alternatives—cutting climate pollutants, improving urban air quality, and supporting a just transition for workers and industry.

The non-road sector—comprised mostly of construction and agricultural machinery—emits over 1 billion tonnes of CO2, 3 million tonnes of methane (CH4), and 250,000 tonnes of black carbon (BC) annually, exceeding the climate footprint of the global maritime sector. Construction machinery alone contributes around 40% of those emissions, making it one of the largest and most immediate opportunities for action.

Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, launched the partnership during an event at the Super Pollutant Solutions Pavilion. “This collaboration will be key to elevate non-road emissions onto the climate agenda. The electrification of construction machinery is a good starting point, where Norway and the City of Oslo have relevant experience. A key point to succeed is to dismantle barriers to adoption”.

“Non-road machinery is the next frontier to help us tackle climate change and air pollution,” said Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). “Electrifying construction equipment is a fast and very visible way to cut black carbon—a powerful short-lived climate pollutant—while delivering a quieter and healthier environment, for workers and citizens. This partnership combines policy leadership, technical expertise, and on-the-ground know-how to take this turn .”

The benefits go beyond climate. In major markets, non-road equipment drives 50–70% of particulate matter (PM) and about 30% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from mobile sources—key drivers of poor air quality and ozone formation. Replacing diesel engines with electric motors helps cities move toward World Health Organization air-quality guidelines and delivers immediate health benefits for urban residents.

Encouragingly, more governments are setting zero-emission transformation goals and policies for the non-road sector, supported by rapid technological progress and a growing market. Electric machinery has advanced across equipment types—including compact loaders and excavators—with model offerings expanding and performance increasingly matching diesel in key duty cycles. Manufacturers are investing in electrified product lines, signaling a clear shift from niche pilots to broader market readiness.

“We’re seeing remarkable technological progress in the non-road sector,” said Drew Kodjak, President and CEO at ICCT. “Dozens of electric models are now available across construction machinery categories, and governments are beginning to align industrial, air-quality, and climate policy to accelerate adoption. This partnership will connect technology, policy, and implementation—helping countries and cities design and implement the standards, incentives, and procurement frameworks that make zero-emission construction machinery the norm.”

Cities are central to this effort. They experience the brunt of construction-site noise and pollution, and most construction happens within city limits. Cities are already showing electrification is possible through pilots and procurement. “Cities are on the front line of both the problem and the solution,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director at C40 Cities. “By electrifying construction equipment, we protect residents’ health, reduce noise, and cut climate pollution. Working with CCAC and ICCT, we’ll help cities move from pilots to full-scale deployment—setting policies that align clean-construction equipment supply and demand and drive a fair, resilient transition for all.”

This partnership marks a turning point for an often-overlooked sector. Together, the CCAC, ICCT, and C40 will elevate non-road equipment on the global climate agenda to unlock the attention and investment needed for large-scale transformation.

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive.