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Indicator Assessment
Emissions from transport (including aviation) started to decrease in 2008 and by 2013 they had decreased by 8.2 %. In 2013, emissions from transport (including aviation) fell by 0.6 % in comparison with 2012, and this reduction is more acute for road transportation (-0.4 %) than for aviation (-0.1 %).
In 2013, road transport was responsible for almost 73 % of the total greenhouse gas emissions from transport (including aviation and bunkers). 43 % of these emissions were contributed by passenger cars, while 19% came from heavy-duty vehicles. Passenger cars accounted for 60 % of all road transport emissions, while heavy-duty vehicles accounted for 27 %.
Due to the notable increase in passenger-kilometres and tonne-kilometres, compared with 1990 values, international aviation continued to display the largest percentage increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels (93 %), followed by international shipping (28 %) and road transportation (17 %). In 2013, transport (including aviation and shipping) contributed 24.4 % of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-28. This figure drops to 19.8 % if bunkers are excluded from the overall value.
In 2013, EU greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping decreased sharply (by 5.4%), almost reaching 2001 levels, but they will need to fall by 30.2 % by 2050 in order to meet the EU reduction target of a 40 % reduction from 2005 levels by 2050.
However, emissions from transport (including aviation) were still 19.4 % above 1990 levels in 2013, and preliminary estimates show that emissions from transport rose slightly in 2014. Emissions will, therefore, need to fall by 67 % by 2050 in order to meet the 2011 Transport White Paper target.
Total greenhouse gas emissions from transport, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), are analysed in this indicator. Emissions are split into road transport, railways, domestic navigation, domestic aviation, international aviation and maritime transport.
In accordance with United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) rules, the global warming potential values used in this indicator are those taken from IPCC AR2 for the pre-2015 period and those taken from IPCC AR4 for the post-2015 period. The data have been weighted according to the following global warming potentials for each greenhouse gas to give total emissions in million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e):
There are no specific greenhouse gas emission reduction targets foreseen for the transport sector under the Kyoto Protocol. However, there are several European policies and strategies (see below) that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. From 1 January 2012, air transport has been included in the EU Emissions Trading System. However, in order to allow time for negotiations on a global, market-based measure that can be applied to aviation emissions, only emissions from flights within the European Economic Area currently fall under the EU system.
The EU's overall goal, set out in the 2011 White Paper for Transport, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport (including international aviation but excluding international shipping) by 2050 to a level that is 60 % below that of 1990. This includes the intermediate goal for 2030 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 20 % compared with 2008 levels. This is equivalent to an +8 % increase compared with 1990 levels. Similarly, emissions from international shipping are to be reduced by 40 % from 2005 levels by 2050. These overall transport targets are monitored annually and are in line with the economy-wide targets of a 20 % reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 1990 levels and a 40 % reduction by 2030. Other transport policies that support the achievement of these targets, such as the various regulations that set CO2 emission targets for new passenger cars and vans, are also monitored in the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM).
As the transport sector is not included in the Emissions Trading Scheme, it is the responsibility of Member States to reduce transport emissions through national policies in order to reach their national Effort Sharing targets (which cover sectors such as transport, buildings, agriculture, waste, etc.). These Effort Sharing targets are equivalent to a 10 % reduction compared with 2005 levels by 2020, and a 30 % reduction by 2030.
The annual official data submission is made by the EU Member States to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the EU Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR). The compilation of emission estimates by Member States is based on a combination of sectoral activity data, calorific values and carbon emission factors. Recommended methodologies for the estimation of emission data are compiled in the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, supplemented by the ‘Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse gas Inventories’ and UNFCCC Guidelines.
This indicator is based on information reported by Member States under the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR). However, should a Member State not submit the data required to compile the EU inventory, the European Commission shall prepare estimates to complete the Member States' greenhouse gas inventories in consultation and close cooperation with the Member States in question. In this case, the Member State shall use the gap-filled inventory in its official submission to the UNFCCC. The basis of this gap-filling process is described in the Commission Delegated Regulation of 12.03.2014 (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/g-gas/monitoring/docs/c_2014_1539_en.pdf )
Please refer to the Methodology uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).
Please refer to the Data sets uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).
Please refer to the Rationale uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/transport-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases/transport-emissions-of-greenhouse-gases-5 or scan the QR code.
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