Off-road and Freight Decarbonization Symposium 2025 convenes in San Francisco

Global leaders and industry experts unite to accelerate zero-emission solutions for off-road equipment and freight.

San Francisco, 9 September, 2025 — The Off-Road and Freight Decarbonization Symposium 2025 was held September 8–9 in San Francisco, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and researchers to chart the path toward zero-emission off-road and freight

The event was co-hosted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and California-China Climate Institute (CCCI), with tremendous support from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The symposium welcomed over 50 participants, representing governments, research institutions, NGOs, manufacturers, construction firms, fleet operators, and energy providers from China, the United States, Europe, and South America.

Opening remarks were delivered by CARB Chair Liane Randolph, and Kirsten Hammelbo, Consul General of the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco, setting the stage for the two-day agenda. Keynote speakers included European Commission Deputy Director-General Jan Dusík, ICCT Chief Program Officer Stephanie Searle and a representative from the Chinese government. They shared policies, regulations and advanced practical experiences from their own national and regional contexts, highlighted the latest technologies in zero-emission trucks and off-road equipment, and stressed the urgency of stronger global cooperation to accelerate decarbonization in this key sector.

“Freight and off-road equipment are among the hardest sectors to decarbonize, but the solutions are already here,” said Stephanie Searle, ICCT Chief Program Officer. “With the right policies and global collaboration, we can scale these technologies and create cleaner air, healthier communities, and stronger economies.”

Over the two days, sessions addressed national and regional policy approaches to decarbonizing trucks and off-road machinery, with perspectives from California, China, and Europe. City- and local-level experiences from Oslo, Beijing, Dalian, New York and Latin America showcased pilot projects and regulatory innovations. Other discussions focused on charging solutions, with input from U.S., European, and Chinese stakeholders, as well as forward-looking panels moderated by ICCT and CARB that explored opportunities, challenges, and key actions for both the trucking and off-road sectors. The symposium concluded with a site visit to Viridi in Richmond, California, where participants observed mobile and stationary power solutions and a live demonstration of zero-emission construction equipment.

Following earlier meetings in Beijing (2023) and Oslo (2024), the San Francisco symposium broadened international collaboration and highlighted growing momentum to decarbonize the off-road and freight sectors.

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Media contact
Wenbin Wu, communications@theicct.org

Symposium website: https://theicct.org/off-road-and-freight-decarbonization-symposium-2025/

About the International Council on Clean Transportation
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) is an independent research organization providing first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators. Our mission is to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change. Founded in 2001, we are a nonprofit organization working under grants and contracts from private foundations and public institutions.

Find us at:
www.theicct.org
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