Air pollution disclosure and management are among the issues that appear to be gaining traction in 2026. Earlier this month, I wrote about new GRI standards targeting several forms of pollution, including air pollution. Now, a recent letter from ShareAction is urging companies in the freight and logistics sector to take specific actions on air pollution:
- “Recognise air pollution as a material business issue with clear implications for risk management, workforce and community health, climate and nature strategies, and long- term value creation
- Measure and disclose key health harming air pollutants, including PM2.5, across owned operations and value chains, in line with emerging reporting expectations
- Set time-bound reduction targets for priority air pollutants, aligned with regulatory trajectories and emerging best practice
- Accelerate the transition to cleaner vehicle fleets, including setting EV and zero emission vehicle targets, reducing diesel reliance, and engaging vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure providers to scale deployment
- Engage in industry and policy initiatives that support effective action on air pollution, including addressing non-exhaust emissions and strengthening enabling policy frameworks”
The increased attention from standard setters and asset managers makes air pollution an issue to watch. We’ve seen other priorities struggle to gain a foothold. Nature disclosures, for example, are still in their nascent stage and may or may not be widely adopted by regulators in the future. However, unlike nature, which is a broad and difficult-to-manage issue. Air pollution is narrow and focused. It includes not only carbon emissions, but also other hazardous pollutants that directly effect human health. This tangibility may make air pollution disclosures more popular in the near future.
Our members can learn more about air pollution here.
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