Logistics plays a crucial but often overlooked role in tackling the climate crisis and driving sustainable development. At the Kuehne Climate Center (KCC), Mark Major and his team are working to make logistics “part of the solution” — not only by reducing emissions, but also by enabling climate action at scale in low- and middle-income countries. In this interview, Major explains how smarter logistics systems can accelerate green growth, strengthen resilience, and unlock new opportunities for inclusive development.

Hi Mark! Thanks for sitting down with us for this conversation. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your role as the Senior Strategy Director at the Kuehne Climate Center (KKC)?

I’m Mark Major,  Strategy Director of the Kuehne Climate Center. I guide the rapidly growing work of the new Kuehne Climate Center to ensure the clear added value of our work on the intersection of logistics and climate action.  The KCC is a German, self-funded, non-profit entity working in the general public interest.

The Kuehne Climate Center sits at the intersection of climate action,  logistics and sustainable development. What is the central change or primary goal you are working to achieve through your strategy and initiatives?

Too often, logistics is “part of the problem” and the sector is not transforming fast enough to meet society’s expectations and future needs, so we are working to make sure logistics becomes “part of the solution”, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

In addition to  supporting the rapid transformation of the sector to become climate-compatible (resilient, low-carbon, resource-efficient), we also see a significant opportunity for logistics to help scale climate action.

Climate action at scale means: delivering low-carbon products (e.g. green steel, e-fuels), diffusing low-carbon technologies (e.g. offshore wind turbines, e-bikes, solar panels, batteries), supporting Carbon Dioxide Removal (e.g. biochar, enhanced rock weathering), responding to climate related emergencies ALL require new logistics flows at scale.

We call this “Logistics for Climate Action”. Without the right logistics facilities, solutions and skills in place, the speed of climate action will be too slow.

The title of your upcoming event at the World Bank Annual Meeting is “Logistics investments as a development catalyst.” How do you define the concept of “Logistics for Development” and why is it so crucial for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)?

The environmental case (e.g., reducing emissions) for investing in logistics has been well made, but the contribution of sustainable logistics to local economic and social development – such as, increasing access to markets, reducing costs, enhancing energy independence, improving the balance of payments, quality jobs etc.) needs to be communicated more clearly.

Could you share one or two practical examples of a logistics intervention – be it infrastructure, technology, or policy – that has demonstrably served as a successful development catalyst?

There are many, but let me take a macro and micro example:

The corridor authorities that have been established in Eastern Africa to facilitate flows along the long, international Northern and Central corridors – these are world leading institutions reaching across international borders to improve freight flows along these crucial trade corridors (KCC is pleased to support the sustainability aspects of their great work). The CEO of the Northern Corridor Authority will be contributing his insights at our event.

At a more pragmatic level KCC is helping truck operators in Eastern Africa calculate and understand their vehicle emissions. This is very pragmatic work that enables them to benchmark their performance and identify the right measures to reduce fuel use (and emissions) and make themselves more cost effective.   Actions could be as simple as better vehicle maintenance or driver training.

What are the primary challenges or roadblocks you observe today when trying to implement sustainable logistics solutions in regions facing significant development hurdles?

I want to name three challenges:

1. A lack of understanding of logistics/freight transport, along with insufficient engagement of the private sector (who are key actors in logistics),
2. Fuzzy thinking about the benefits of public investments in transport, particularly confusing the goals and benefits of passenger transport with those of freight transport,
3. An overemphasis on “infrastructure” investments. We need to be thinking about the whole logistics system; infrastructure, equipment, operations, workforce and ancillary systems. Only when these five aspects are working in harmony do logistics systems function efficiently.

The event is co-organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). From your perspective, what specific and critical role does development cooperation play in de-risking and scaling up sustainable logistics investments globally?

Investing in sustainable supply chains benefits both producers and consumers. Secure supply chains with reliable partners improves national security.  This perspective allows us to move beyond traditional concepts of “development aid” toward a new paradigm of interdependence and common interest (along supply chains). This is important for political support for development cooperation.

Private sector engagement is key. How can organizations like the Kuehne Climate Center (KCC) best bridge the gap between private logistics efficiency and public development goals?

The private sector responds really quickly to new opportunities when the economics are right and is often willing to invest themselves when the benefits are clear.  The KCC aims to bridge the gaps between these public and private sector actors to help identify the best investments for public (more trade-related jobs, rural development, and improved balance of payments) and private benefits (such as lower costs and greater reliability).

“Without the right logistics facilities, solutions and skills in place, the speed of climate action will be too slow.”

Looking ahead, what technological or policy innovation in logistics are you most optimistic about for driving inclusive and sustainable development in the next two years?

One, I think fair pricing for infrastructure use is key. This approach ensures that loans for investment can be paid back and that taxpayers should not be subsidizing inefficient private operations. Public funding should be focused on making the system more sustainable (economic, environmental and social dimensions).

Second, electric trucks are a promising solution in fast growing logistics regions. They offer lower costs, are easier to maintain, and are compatible with domestic renewable energy supply. However, the roll out is too slow and this is an area where KCC is actively engaged.

If you had to recommend one priority action item for a government or a multilateral  development bank to accelerate climate-compatible trade tomorrow, what would it be?

Develop and implement a clear National Sustainable Logistics Action Plan – in partnership with private sector actors.

Finally, what is the Kuehne Climate Center’s strategic outlook for ‘Logistics for Development’ over the next two years, and what key outcomes are you aiming for by the end of 2027?

We want countries, development banks and investors to see the good economic benefits of investing in logistics systems in low- and middle-income countries. So that the economic benefits from trade can flow quickly to producers, operators, workers and communities.

We want to highlight the key role sustainable logistics systes can play in catalyzing local economic development.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We look forward to learning more about your work and the role of logistics in driving climate action at the upcoming event at the World Bank annual meeting.

As Mark Major reminds us, the speed of climate action depends on the strength of our logistics systems. Turning freight, transport, and trade routes into drivers of sustainability requires collaboration across sectors and borders.

Find out how the Kuehne Climate Center is advancing “Logistics for Climate Action” and join the discussion at the upcoming event “Logistics Investments as a Development Catalyst”; organized in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Learn more about TUMI’s work towards climate-neutral and inclusive mobility at transformative-mobility.org.