The mobility sector is the third-largest greenhouse-gas emitter,1 producing nearly eight metric gigatons of CO2 globally in 2022.2 According to McKinsey analysis, to dramatically reduce their emissions, automakers across the globe are expected to invest more than $1 trillion into green transportation through 2030—but more can be done. Progress will require strategic cross-collaboration across companies, sectors, governments, and communities, with an openness to build and adopt new technologies at scale.
During the Global Infrastructure Initiative’s inaugural Decarbonizing Mobility Forum, held in Amsterdam on September 13 and 14, 2023, leaders across the energy and mobility sectors gathered to discuss ways to accelerate sustainable transportation. The forum brought together more than 80 senior leaders from 56 companies and 15 countries. The event focused primarily on the automotive industry—a significant part of the mobility mix—including automobile electrification and the underlying infrastructure, which are essential parts of the broader actions required to realize green mobility.3 Conversations centered on the enabling factors for expanding clean energy and net-zero mobility, overcoming roadblocks, and finding new opportunities to deploy critical infrastructure and technology.
The first day of the Decarbonizing Mobility Forum convened industry leaders for a site visit to the Johan Cruijff Arena, networking opportunities, and plenary sessions spanning the topics of battery manufacturing, clean energy, and electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The second day tackled sector-specific discussions on net-zero mobility, battery circularity, and hydrogen infrastructure.
Bold innovation, new models of collaboration, and policy support will be vital for the industry to move forward in a meaningful way. This report summarizes the key themes and takeaways that emerged during the forum’s discussions and highlights strategies for leaders across the mobility value chain to advance the sector and meet its sustainability goals.