Europe Needs to Steer Transport Policy in the Right Direction

BRUSSELS and COPENHAGEN - Transport continues to contribute disproportionately to Europe’s
greenhouse gas emissions, poor air quality and noise; and still uses the
least efficient modes to move people and goods.

The findings are set out in the report ‘Transport at a crossroads’,
launched today at the European Parliament in Brussels by Professor Jacqueline
McGlade, EEA Executive Director, “We know the technology exists to tackle
impacts of the transport sector on Europe’s environment. However, many
vehicles rolling off production lines are anything but green, the freight
sector still favours the least efficient transport modes and railways across
the EU still do not have a unified system.”

“At a time when we need to tackle our economic and environmental problems
through sustainable and green solutions, trends in transport are pointing in
the wrong direction; and will continue to contribute to air pollution, rising
emissions of greenhouse gas and many negative environmental impacts.” said
Professor McGlade.

- Emissions of GHG have increased by 26% or 180 million tonnes,
between 1990 and 2006, excluding international aviation and marine
transport. Representing a higher increase than the annual national
emissions for 2006 from Belgium; 132 million tonnes, or Romania;
157million tonnes.[1]

- Between 1996 and 2006 the total freight volume measured in
tonne-kilometres for EU member states increased by 35 % or 650 M
tonne-km, significantly more than the total freight transport of
Germany. Rail freight and inland waterways saw a decline in market
Share

- Between 1995 and 2006 car ownership levels in EU-27 increased by
22%, or 52 Million cars. Representing an increase equivalent to the
entire fleet of UK and Spain put together. The number of kilometres
travelled by passengers in EEA member countries grew by 65million
kilometres in 2006.

- Air pollutants from vehicles are declining, but air quality is
still a problem across Europe

Decoupling transport growth from economic growth

Well designed policies to manage demand for transport can reduce
transport volumes. This would improve the transport efficiency of the economy
and decouple transport growth from economic growth. The report also confirms
that price signals play a major role in the choices made by consumers; with a
20% increase in demand for bus services related to a 10% increase in fuel
prices.

“We still need clear, measurable, realistic and time related targets for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air emissions and noise from transport.
Perhaps more critically, consumers have indicated through their reaction to
volatile prices last year, that fuel and road pricing clearly has a role to
play in tackling transport demand.” says Professor McGlade.

Background on the report

The report ‘Transport at a crossroads’ is the annual publication from the
EEA’s Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM), which monitors
the progress and effectiveness of attempts to integrate transport and
environment strategies. TERM reports have been published since 2000 and offer
important insights that can help the development of EU policies. The report
aims to cover all EEA member countries.

The report is available here:
www.eea.europa.eu/publications/transport-at-a-crossroads/

EEA member countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.

About the European Environment Agency (EEA)

The EEA is based in Copenhagen. The agency aims to help achieve
significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment through the
provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy
makers and the public.

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[1] Annual emission for 2006 - EEA greenhouse gas data viewer -
dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=455

Source: European Environment Agency

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