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Press Release
Emissions levels of almost all pollutants from transport fell in 2009, as there was a drop in demand. But this fall was due to the economic recession. So now we need to see a more fundamental shift in Europe’s transport system, so that emissions do not increase even in times of strong economic growth.
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director
"Emissions levels of almost all pollutants from transport fell in 2009, as there was a drop in demand,” Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said. “But this fall was due to the economic recession. So now we need to see a more fundamental shift in Europe’s transport system, so that emissions do not increase even in times of strong economic growth."
The EEA report on transport and the environment shows that some efficiency gains have been made. For example, new cars in 2010 were approximately a fifth more efficient than in 2000. However, these relatively modest gains are often outpaced by growing demand, even if the recession slowed activity in some areas. Between 1990 and 2009, demand for transport grew by approximately one third, leading to a 27 % increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) from transport in the same period.
New targets proposed in the Commission’s Roadmap will frame policy making at the European, national and municipal level in order to tackle environmental issues connected to transport. The report shows there are significant opportunities for policy makers to address these problems coherently, for example by addressing air quality and climate change together.
For the first time, the EEA has developed a baseline to assess progress towards the transport sector’s environmental targets. These include targets for greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and noise. A core set of 12 indicators has been developed, spanning a wide range of policy areas.
‘Laying the foundations for greener transport’ is the latest in an annual series of reports published by the European Environment Agency under the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM).
The European Annual Air Quality Report 2011 provides an overview and analysis of air quality in Europe. The evaluation of the status and trends of air quality is based on ambient air measurements (1999-2009), in conjunction with anthropogenic emissions and their trends (1990-2009).
The TERM report includes a chapter on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars. In coming weeks, the EEA will release updated data on manufacturers’ progress towards CO2 targets for new cars. This will be published on www.eea.europa.eu.
In 2012, the TERM report will track progress against the baseline established in this report for the first time.
Transport GHG emissions were defined in the Kyoto Protocol agreement as the emissions from the combustion and evaporation of fuel for all transport activity, regardless of the sector, but excluding international aviation and maritime transport (international bunker fuels). The GHG emissions target for transport in the Commission’s Roadmap is defined as the emissions counted under the Kyoto Protocol, plus international aviation (but excluding international maritime transport). Figures are in CO2 equivalent.
Freight transport: This includes road (national and international haulage of Heavy Good Vehicles, including cross-trade and cabotage), railways and inland waterways.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/european-transport-sector-must-be or scan the QR code.
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