Zero-Emission Delivery Zones: Decarbonizing Urban Freight and Goods Delivery in U.S. Cities

The paper examines zero-emission delivery zones (ZEDZs)—areas restricting access to zero-emission delivery vehicles—as a tool to mitigate air pollution, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, and congestion caused by urban freight. Based on interviews with policymakers and logistics experts, the authors find that ZEDZ implementation is currently lacking in the neighborhoods most adversely affected by freight activity. The document recommends a stepwise implementation approach, early stakeholder engagement, and a prioritization of equity to ensure inclusive outcomes.

• Zero-emission delivery zones (ZEDZs) are defined as specific urban areas where unrestricted access is granted exclusively to zero-emission delivery vehicles to combat the environmental and health impacts of urban freight.
• Analysis of ZEDZs in the U.S. and Netherlands indicates that these zones vary based on local policy landscapes and market activity, and they are currently under-implemented in the communities most harmed by freight-related pollution and congestion.
• To achieve effective and equitable ZEDZs, the authors recommend that cities prioritize equity throughout the process, engage stakeholders early, adopt a stepwise implementation strategy, provide supportive policies, and seek state and federal policy reform.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Zero-Emission Delivery Zones: Decarbonizing Urban Freight and Goods Delivery in U.S. Cities. https://www.wri.org/research/zero-emission-delivery-zones-us-cities

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Zero-Emission Delivery Zones: Decarbonizing Urban Freight and Goods Delivery in U.S. Cities. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/zero-emission-delivery-zones-us-cities.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Zero-Emission Delivery Zones: Decarbonizing Urban Freight and Goods Delivery in U.S. Cities |url=https://www.wri.org/research/zero-emission-delivery-zones-us-cities |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendzeroemission, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Zero-Emission Delivery Zones: Decarbonizing Urban Freight and Goods Delivery in U.S. Cities}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/zero-emission-delivery-zones-us-cities}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }