National T & E strategies

Indicator 27: Implementation of integrated transport strategies

Policy and targets

Integration of environmental requirements at various levels of transport policy-making and planning is effective only if policy measures are combined in a consistent strategy. The need for integrated sectoral strategies was already stated in the EU’s fifth environmental action programme (5EAP) and became a high priority with the Amsterdam Treaty. The European Council, at its Summit in Cardiff in 1998, requested the Commission and the transport ministers to focus their efforts on developing integrated transport and environment strategies. The 1998-2004 action plan on the Common Transport Policy (CTP) includes a limited number of initiatives towards environmental integration (CEC, 1998). An overview of the principal initiatives to integrate environmental concerns into the transport sector was presented at the Vienna European Council in December 1998. The Council identified transport pricing and environmental costs, the revitalisation of rail transport and the promotion of inland waterways, maritime transport and combined transport as main areas of action. Against this background, Member State initiatives gain importance and the need for coordinated action becomes apparent.

Findings

A preliminary survey of Member States’ strategies was made in the context of the EEA’s contribution to the Global Assessment of the 5EAP (EEA, 1999) and additional information was obtained from the DG Environment–DG Transport expert group on transport and environment. Eight countries are developing integrated national transport/environment strategies, but for several of these implementation has yet to start and funding has still to be established.

• Belgium (Flemish region): The Department of Environment and Infrastructure in the Flemish Region is developing a proposal for a Sustainable Mobility Plan, which will integrate environmental concerns through various measures. This is expected to be adopted by the Flemish Parliament in 2001.
• Denmark: Transport 2005 (1993) followed up the Government’s Transport Action Plan of 1990. The 1990 plan tabled specific targets for reducing the environmental impact of the transport sector. These were confirmed in Transport 2005 and relate mainly to air pollution and noise problems. Environmental considerations are normally included in decision-making on transport supply investments (and all other areas where transport is likely to have an impact on society).
• Finland: The Ministry of Transport and Communications initiated the Action Programme for Reducing the Adverse Effects of Transport on the Environment (1994) which sets out the government’s environmental objectives for the transport sector to the year 2000. A second action programme is currently under preparation, under the wider framework of the Finnish Government Programme for Sustainable Development. In 1996, the Finnish Rail Administration completed its environmental management system and the National Board of Navigation published a report on environmental policy and programmes that presents the objectives for the years 1996-2000. An Environmental Aviation Policy is in preparation. For the Finnish Road Administration, the third environmental policy was prepared in 1996.
• Sweden: Building on the findings of the environmentally sustainable transport (EST) project, the Swedish Parliament adopted the first national transport policy in 1998. Integration of environmental issues into transport policy is spelled out in terms of five goals: accessibility, effectiveness, safety, good environment, and regional harmony. Integration of external costs has been a prominent policy goal since 1988. Intermediate objectives were decided by the Parliament early in 1998. These mainly cover air emissions and noise. The long-term goal of transport policy is to achieve a sustainable transport system, with intermediate objectives to reduce the environmental impacts of traffic in terms of health effects, ecological impact, fragmentation of landscapes and biological diversity.
• United Kingdom: The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions published a White Paper ‘A New Deal for Transport’ which outlines the Government’s new integrated sustainable transport policy. The Government is currently investigating ways of implementing and funding the policy. An independent Commission for Integrated Transport has been established to advise on integration at the national level. In addition, ‘Sustainable Distribution: a Strategy’ sets out how government and industry will work together over the next 10 years to support a growing economy and improve the quality of life.

Future work

More detailed information should be collected to obtain a more accurate picture of the status and scope of strategies in Member States.