Why tracking decarbonisation in logistics over a decade matters

The Global Sustainable Logistics Survey is an international research initiative that tracks progress toward more sustainable logistics systems worldwide.

Launched in Europe by the Kuehne Climate Center and the Center for Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains at Kühne Logistics University, the survey gathers insights from senior logistics decision-makers across regions and industries.

By collecting data over time, the GSLS aims to build a clearer picture of how logistics systems are evolving and where further progress is needed.

The 2026 GSLS covers three topics. First, do logistics professionals agree on which sustainability solutions work and why is progress on them so slow? Second, which skills does scaling these solutions require, and where are skills missing? Third, as extreme weather disrupts supply chains, is logistics doing enough to adapt?

The 2026 GSLS report offers 10 recommendations for policymakers and 12 for managers for scaling sustainability solutions and accelerating the decarbonisation of logistics.  Not every measure will fit every context or deliver the same benefit for the same effort. There are also regional variations as Asia, South America, and Europe start from different positions in infrastructure, geography, regulation, skills, and climate risk. Similarly, industries and transport modes move at different speeds.

There are good reasons to expect accelerating progress in the coming years, as low-carbon technologies, such as the electrification of land transport and alternative fuels, become more
affordable and the investment option that lowers emissions is increasingly also the one that lowers costs.

Read the summary recommendations in English.

Mark Major & Laura Huerfano

October 2026