Cross-Sector Solutions for Low-Carbon Transport
Jen serves as Sustainability Catalyst for ATDC, supporting early-stage sustainable innovation companies. With over 15 years of experience, she coaches startups and connects them with the resources they need to thrive.
An inventor, author and featured speaker, she is an expert in innovation strategy and disruptive technologies. She also serves on the Boards of Startup Atlanta and TAG Smart Communities & Sustainability Society.
As Chief Sustainability Officer at Norfolk Southern, Josh Raglin leads efforts to transform the company’s sustainability strategy.
He serves on advisory boards for Auburn and Georgia Tech and is a board member of the US Endowment for Forestry and The Longleaf Alliance. He is also a founding member and active advisor to Drawdown Georgia and Sustain SC which bring together commerce and conservation solutions.
Dr. Patricia Stathatou
Asst. Professor of Chemical | Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech
Dr. Patricia Stathatou
Asst. Professor of Chemical | Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech
Patricia Stathatou, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at Georgia Tech. Her research, which focuses on developing and assessing sustainable water and energy systems, has been featured in news outlets such as Forbes and WSB-TV.
In parallel, she is engaged in bioremediation using microbial cells to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water and recover critical materials.
UJ Jatar is visionary leader transforming consumer health, wellbeing and sustainability across large corporations, startups and nonprofits.
Currently, UJ is Chair of the Smart Mobility Office for Panasonic North America. He has also co-founded a biotech startup and been instrumental in giving life to a variety of ventures at Coca-Cola, including its first water brand, the Coca-Cola-Nestle joint venture and Coke Freestyle.
Mike Scallan is the Senior Manager of Procurement and Supplier Management at Hapag-Lloyd AG, a global shipping and logistics company serving businesses worldwide with a focus on efficiency and sustainability in global trade. With over 30 years in shipping and logistics, Scallan has held various leadership roles in transport dispatch and customer service.
This panel gathered leaders from logistics, energy, mobility and academia to examine one of the toughest climate challenges—decarbonizing transportation. Moderated by Jennifer Singh of ATDC, the discussion featured Josh Raglin (Norfolk Southern), Mike Scallan (Hapag-Lloyd), Dr. Patricia Stathatou (Georgia Tech) and Udaiyan (UJ) Jatar (Panasonic Smart Mobility), each offering a unique perspective on building a cleaner, smarter and more inclusive freight ecosystem. Across rail, shipping and fleets, the path forward demands integrated strategies, advanced technologies and a relentless focus on equity.
Reengineering Freight for a Low-Carbon Future
The freight sector contributes nearly 10% of global emissions and decarbonizing it is no simple task. One panelist from a major rail company outlined how rail—often a more efficient mode than trucking—is pursuing a three-pronged approach: boosting locomotive fuel efficiency, increasing the use of biodiesel blends, and shifting toward renewable electricity. Since 2021, their company has reduced emissions intensity by 10% and launched a book-and-claim system that allows customers to apply verified carbon reductions to their own sustainability goals. While testing battery-electric and hybrid locomotives, the panelist noted that infrastructure hurdles remain, especially limited grid capacity and insufficient charging infrastructure.
Another speaker, representing a global shipping firm, explained how sustainability has become embedded in procurement decisions. The company is piloting dual-fuel engines, using low-friction hull coatings and exploring advanced biofuels such as biomethane. Their initiative enables customers to purchase book-and-claim certificates to fund low-emissions transport, with over 700 customers enrolled. Procurement teams now weigh sustainability alongside price, signaling that market pressure is beginning to align with decarbonization goals.
From Tech Provider to Strategic Partner
A speaker from a leading technology company emphasized a major shift underway in the smart mobility space. Rather than simply selling EV chargers or software, the company now offers “decarbonizing-as-a-service,” guiding fleet operators through long-term strategy development, technology selection, and operational execution. This includes integrating mobile EV charging, alternative fuels and cybersecurity measures.
Fleet transitions, they explained, are not one-size-fits-all—they require tailored approaches that consider location-specific energy needs, available vendors, and infrastructure readiness.
This holistic approach is critical as fleet managers face rising pressure to reduce emissions without disrupting service or escalating costs. The speaker underscored the value of helping clients future-proof their operations to ensure early investments can scale as technology evolves.
Data, Trade-Offs and the Need for Systems Thinking
Another panelist brought a scientific lens to the discussion, cautioning against surface-level fixes. Through life cycle assessments (LCA), their research team found that scrubber-equipped ships using high-sulfur fuel actually outperformed low-sulfur alternatives when total environmental impacts were considered. These counterintuitive findings highlight the importance of systems thinking in transportation policy and planning. By rigorously assessing all stages—from fuel production to tailpipe emissions—industry and regulators can make smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Panelists agreed that decarbonizing freight systems depends on tighter collaboration across modes and sectors. For instance, one speaker noted that shipping firms are increasingly defaulting to rail over trucking when possible, while another shared that rail operators now provide granular emissions data to help shippers make better-informed decisions. Such transparency allows supply chain managers to optimize for both carbon and cost.
Centering Equity in the Transition
While technological progress dominated much of the panel, equity emerged as a recurring theme. One panelist stressed that hitting internal emissions targets is meaningless if nearby communities are left behind. Their company has committed funding to expand home weatherization and energy efficiency programs in underserved communities. The goal, they explained, is to ensure that sustainability doesn’t just benefit large customers or urban hubs, but also improves daily life in rural and low-income areas.
One speaker framed the challenge as both practical and moral. Building a low-carbon transportation system is not just about cleaner fuels or efficient engines—it’s about aligning technology, policy and investment with community needs. Another emphasized that the stakes are too high for siloed thinking. Whether optimizing shipping routes or electrifying fleets, the transition must be data-driven, collaborative and equitable.
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