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Countries' perspectives on SOER 2015 - Transport cross-country comparison

Page Last modified 11 May 2020
2 min read
Photo: © Joscha Beninde/EEA
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SOER 2015

Synthesis report

Global megatrends

European briefings

Cross-country comparisons

Countries and regions

Ireland

Smarter Travel is the transport policy for Ireland that sets out how the vision of a sustainable travel and transport system can be achieved. The Smarter Travel programme doesn't just set out a vision for better travel choices but also provides funding to provide information and improve facilities for cyclists, walkers and public transport users to develop ways to get Irish people to shift to smarter, more sustainable modes of travelling and to reduce reliance on the private car.

Italy

The indicator underlines a sharp reduction of passenger transport in Italy (about -12% between 2005 and 2012, fig.1). Italy has the highest reduction in Europe, moreover only 8 countries are reducing transport, while all the other 25 listed are increasing.

The above data reflect correctly national statistics, however half of this sharp reduction is due to a methodological update of the statistic regarding occupancy rates of private cars and does not reflect entirely the real change in transport trends. In the same period the estimate of total v- km run by cars and/or all passenger vehicles is decreasing only by about 6% and passengers transported by other modes of transport (excluding cars) are decreasing by about 2.6%.

The above findings do not change the measures outlined in the "prospects" part of the indicator, however it underline the need to be more cautious in cross country comparisons of data that are homogeneous only in recent years.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands the use of more sustainable transport modes of transport like bicycling is common practice. As a result good statistical data on non-motorized modes of transport is readily available. According to KiM Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis total mobility in (passenger) kilometres declined slightly from 185 in 2005 to 184.5 billion kilometres in 2012. In 2012 half of all trips in the Netherlands were undertaken by car, a quarter by bicycle, one in five by foot, and one in twenty via public transport. In passenger kilometres the share of non-motorized modes of transport is of course less, as it concerns mainly short trips. Of the total number of kilometres travelled in 2012 the car accounts for nearly three-quarters, public transport for 13 percent, and bicycles for 8 percent. Between 2005 and 2012, the reduction in number of kilometres travelled by car amounted to no more than 2%. As a result the modal split also changed slightly. Both public transport and non-motorized modes of transport increased by 1 percent in the 2005 – 2012 timeframe.

 

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News New vans more fuel efficient The average van sold in 2013 was around 4 % more efficient than the previous year, so the new vans fleet has already met the collective carbon emissions target ahead of the 2017 deadline, preliminary data shows. Similar findings were recently published for new cars, which have also met their target in advance.
News New cars meet CO2 target two years ahead of the deadline Cars sold in 2013 were 4 % more efficient than the year before, according to provisional data. Average carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre have continued to fall, so in 2013 the European Union fleet already collectively met its legal target for 2015.
News Eleven countries exceed air pollutant emission limits Air pollutants are still being emitted above legal limits in the EU. Recent data from the EU Member States shows that a number of countries continued to breach their emission ceilings in 2012.
Press Release Front-running cities changing transport, improving quality of life Many cities in Europe are changing, according to a new report which points to rapid transformations in urban transport in some areas. While cycling and efficient public transport are becoming the norm in some urban areas, Europe’s transport sector is still a major contributor to excessive levels of greenhouse gases, air pollution and noise, the report says.

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Indicator Assessment
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Passenger transport demand Passenger transport demand in the EU-28 decreased by nearly 1.5 % between 2011 and 2012, following a slight downward trend since its peak in 2009, broken only by a 1 % increase in 2011. Car passenger travel remains the dominant mode, with a share well above 70 %. Air transport grew by 10 % in 2011, but stabilised in 2012. However, it retained its pre-crisis modal share (9 %). Rail passengers’ share has grown slightly in recent years, and accounted for 7 % in 2012, after the slight increase in the last two years (2011 and 2012). Land passenger transport demand in non-EU-28 countries kept  growing overall in 2012, with a 1.7 % growth in Iceland, and 1.5 % in Switzerland. Norwegian land transport demand figures remain stable, with car and rail demand growth (1.3 % and 3.6 % respectively) offsetting a 20.2 % loss in rail. The quick deterioration of rail passenger transport in Turkey (-22 % in 2012) was accompanied by a significant increase (6.2 % in 2012) in total land transport demand, sustained by a 10.5 % growth in car travel. It is worth noting that, according to Eurocontrol (Eurocontrol, 2014), Turkey is also the main driver of air passenger traffic growth in the European skies.

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Related publications

Publication Focusing on environmental pressures from long‑distance transport - TERM 2014: transport indicators tracking progress towards environmental targets in Europe The EEA's annual Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) report presents an overview of transport demand and pressures from the sector on the environment, as well as selected related impacts and policy responses. The report makes use of the latest available data in order to assess key trends and overall progress in meeting policy targets. Part A of the report provides an assessment of the progress made in the environmental performance of the transport system as a whole. Part B presents a dedicated assessment of the impact of long‑distance transport activities on the environment.
Publication A closer look at urban transport – TERM 2013: transport indicators tracking progress towards environmental targets in Europe This TERM 2013 report includes an assessment of progress towards the transport-related environmental targets set out in the 2011 White Paper and other transport and environment regulations. It also includes a focus on the environmental impacts of urban transport.
Publication Laying the foundations for greener transport — TERM 2011: transport indicators tracking progress towards environmental targets in Europe For the first time ever the European Commissions is proposing a greenhouse gas emissions target for transport. But how is transport going to provide the services that our society needs while minimising its environmental impacts? This is the theme for the Transport White Paper launched in 2011. TERM 2011 and future reports aim to deliver an annual assessment on progress towards these targets by introducing the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism Core Set of Indicators (TERM-CSI). TERM 2011 provides also the baseline to which progress will be checked against, covering most of the environmental areas, including energy consumption, emissions, noise and transport demand. In addition, this report shows latest data and discuss on the different aspects that can contribute the most to minimise transport impacts. TERM 2011 applies the avoid-shift-improve (ASI) approach, introduced in the previous TERM report, analysing ways to optimise transport demand, obtain a more sustainable modal split or use the best technology available.

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Geographic coverage

SOER 2015 cross-country comparisons analyse selected environmental issues across a number of EEA countries. They are part of the EEA's report SOER 2015, addressing the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment in Europe. The EEA's task is to provide timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information on Europe's environment.

For references, see www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.

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