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Indicator Assessment
In the EEA member countries, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from transport (excluding international air and maritime transport) increased by 28 % between 1990 and 2007. The 15 old EU Member States make up 81 % of the total EEA area transport emissions and they increased by 26 % in the same period. In the 4 EFTA countries the emissions increased by 25 % while in the 12 new EU Member States the increase was 46 %. In the Candidate Countries (CC-1) the emissions increased by 97 %.
For several of the 15 old EU Member States and EFTA countries, rapidly rising GHG emissions from transport are a serious concern for meeting the Kyoto target.
In the 15 old EU Member States, domestic aviation was the fastest growing transport mode, while rail transport was the fastest decreasing one. Also GHG emissions from international aviation and navigation are increasing rapidly, but these emissions are, in accordance with UNFCCC guidelines, not included in the GHG emission totals relevant for the Kyoto targets.
In the 15 old EU Member States, the transport sector was responsible for 21 % of the total GHG emissions in 2007, while in the 12 new EU Member States the transport sector contributed only by 12 % to the total GHG emissions.
Total GHG emissions from transport
Note: EU-15 refers to 15 old EU Member States prior to May 2004 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), EFTA-4 to the four EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), EU-12 to 12 new EU Member States as of January 2007 (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and CC-1 to the candidate country Turkey.
Annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2007 and inventory report 2009, Submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat, EEA Technical Report No 4/2009, European Environment Agency.
In the 15 old EU member countries emissions of GHGs from transport have increased by 24 % between 1990 and 2007, contributing to a fifth (21 %) of the total GHG emissions in 2007 in the EU-15. CO2 is the main contributor to transport GHG emissions (98 %) and road transport is, in turn, the largest contributor to these emissions (93 % in 2007). Road transport and air transport are the fastest growing contributors to transport GHG emissions between 1990 and 2007. Transport is also a rapidly growing source of N2O emissions (89 % between 1990 and 2007). As it is not a large source of N2O (share in total GHG emissions 0.3 %), it does not have a major impact on the overall trend of total EU-15 GHG emissions.
The EFTA-4 countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) together account for 3 % of the total GHG emissions from transport in the EEA-32 area. The GHG emissions from transport in these countries were 25 % above the 1990 levels in 2007.
In the 12 new EU Member States transport GHG emissions increased by 46 % between 1990 and 2007, as a consequence of increased road transport demand. CO2 is the most important GHG, with 97 % share on total GHG emissions from the transport sector. These CO2 emissions increased by 45 % between 1990 and 2007. Road transport is a small, but rapidly growing source of N2O emissions (+137 % of total transport emissions between 1990 and 2007), due to the penetration of three-way catalysts.
GHG emissions from transport in the EU-15 show a different trend than in the EU-12, where emissions increased strongly in the last years. Within the EU-15 emissions started to stabilise in the last years. For the EU-27, this results in an overall increase between 1990 und 2007 of 27 %.
GHG emissions from transport in the candidate country Turkey increased by 97 % between 1990 and 2007. The increase is due to road transportation and domestic aviation. Turkey accounts for 5 % of the GHG emissions from transport in the EEA area.
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-2 or scan the QR code.
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