Transport

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Transport accounts for around a third of all final energy consumption in the EEA member countries and for more than a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions. It is also responsible for a large share of urban air pollution as well as noise nuisance. Furthermore, transport has a serious impact on the landscape because it divides natural areas into small patches with serious consequences for animals and plants. More

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Photo competition to profile sustainable food, energy and mobility

News 25 Feb 2019

How we produce and consume food and energy and how we move people and goods around have an impact on our environment, climate and health. The European Environment Agency’s new photo competition, ‘Sustainably Yours’, invites Europeans to send photos of the challenges and opportunities in making food, energy and mobility choices more sustainable.

Environment and climate impacts of aviation continue growing

News 24 Jan 2019

Improving technology, more efficient operations, better airports and market-based measures have not been enough to mitigate the aviation sector’s growing impacts on the environment, climate and people's health. These are the key findings of a new report, published jointly today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and EUROCONTROL.

EEA report confirms: electric cars are better for climate and air quality

News 22 Nov 2018

Battery electric cars emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their entire life cycle than petrol and diesel cars, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published today. Promoting renewable energy and circular economy — including the shared use of vehicles and product design that supports reuse and recycling — will help maximise the benefits of shifting to electric vehicles.

Air pollution: agriculture and transport emissions continue to pose problems in meeting agreed limits

News 09 Jul 2018

Emissions from agriculture and transport continue to pose problems for European Union Member States in meeting EU and United Nations air pollution limits, according to updated data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today. While emissions of most air pollutants remain on a downward trend, ammonia emissions continued to rise in 2016.

Photo competition to profile sustainable food, energy and mobility How we produce and consume food and energy and how we move people and goods around have an impact on our environment, climate and health. The European Environment Agency’s new photo competition, ‘Sustainably Yours’, invites Europeans to send photos of the challenges and opportunities in making food, energy and mobility choices more sustainable.

Environment and climate impacts of aviation continue growing Improving technology, more efficient operations, better airports and market-based measures have not been enough to mitigate the aviation sector’s growing impacts on the environment, climate and people's health. These are the key findings of a new report, published jointly today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and EUROCONTROL.

EEA report confirms: electric cars are better for climate and air quality Battery electric cars emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their entire life cycle than petrol and diesel cars, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published today. Promoting renewable energy and circular economy — including the shared use of vehicles and product design that supports reuse and recycling — will help maximise the benefits of shifting to electric vehicles.

Air pollution: agriculture and transport emissions continue to pose problems in meeting agreed limits Emissions from agriculture and transport continue to pose problems for European Union Member States in meeting EU and United Nations air pollution limits, according to updated data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today. While emissions of most air pollutants remain on a downward trend, ammonia emissions continued to rise in 2016.

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Electric vehicles: a smart choice for the environment

Article 17 Dec 2018

Are electric vehicles better for our climate and air quality than petrol or diesel cars? We sat down with Andreas Unterstaller, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) transport and environment expert to discuss the pros and cons of electric cars which is the focus of a new EEA report.

Electric vehicles: a smart choice for the environment Are electric vehicles better for our climate and air quality than petrol or diesel cars? We sat down with Andreas Unterstaller, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) transport and environment expert to discuss the pros and cons of electric cars which is the focus of a new EEA report.

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Progress of EU transport sector towards its environment and climate objectives

Publication 22 Nov 2018

Emissions from the EU transport sector are not reducing enough to limit its environmental and climate impacts in Europe. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transport have increased over the last three years, whilst average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars increased for the first time in 2017. The sector remains a significant source of air pollution, especially of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide, although these emissions have been reduced in the last decade. It also is the main source of environmental noise in Europe.

Electric vehicles from life cycle and circular economy perspectives - TERM 2018

Publication 22 Nov 2018

Through the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) report, the EEA has been monitoring progress in integrating environmental objectives in transport since 2000. The TERM report provides information to the EEA's member countries, the EU and the public. The TERM includes several indicators used for tracking the short- and long-term environmental performance of the transport sector and for measuring progress towards meeting key transport-related policy targets. Since 2017, the indicator-based assessment component of the TERM report has been published as a separate briefing.

Appropriate taxes and incentives do affect purchases of new cars

Publication 12 Apr 2018

Financial incentives set by Member States, such as taxes, can drive reductions in average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in Europe. This briefing describes how these measures affect the sales of vehicles with lower CO2 emissions and examines the extent to which differences in average CO2 emissions between countries may be attributable to differences in the taxation and incentives systems in place.

Aviation and shipping — impacts on Europe's environment TERM 2017

Publication 31 Jan 2018

Domestic and international aviation and shipping are key components of Europe's mobility system. They are both economic sectors that directly bring many societal and economic benefits, such as the delivery of a wide range of goods and services and provision of employment and mobility for personal leisure or business purposes. However, from the broader environmental perspective, both sectors are also seen as challenging, because increasing demand within each of the sectors is exerting increasing pressures on the environment and climate. Their joint consideration in this TERM 2017 report also reflects key similarities, opportunities and challenges between them.

Progress of EU transport sector towards its environment and climate objectives Emissions from the EU transport sector are not reducing enough to limit its environmental and climate impacts in Europe. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transport have increased over the last three years, whilst average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars increased for the first time in 2017. The sector remains a significant source of air pollution, especially of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide, although these emissions have been reduced in the last decade. It also is the main source of environmental noise in Europe.

Electric vehicles from life cycle and circular economy perspectives - TERM 2018 Through the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) report, the EEA has been monitoring progress in integrating environmental objectives in transport since 2000. The TERM report provides information to the EEA's member countries, the EU and the public. The TERM includes several indicators used for tracking the short- and long-term environmental performance of the transport sector and for measuring progress towards meeting key transport-related policy targets. Since 2017, the indicator-based assessment component of the TERM report has been published as a separate briefing.

Appropriate taxes and incentives do affect purchases of new cars Financial incentives set by Member States, such as taxes, can drive reductions in average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in Europe. This briefing describes how these measures affect the sales of vehicles with lower CO2 emissions and examines the extent to which differences in average CO2 emissions between countries may be attributable to differences in the taxation and incentives systems in place.

Aviation and shipping — impacts on Europe's environment TERM 2017 Domestic and international aviation and shipping are key components of Europe's mobility system. They are both economic sectors that directly bring many societal and economic benefits, such as the delivery of a wide range of goods and services and provision of employment and mobility for personal leisure or business purposes. However, from the broader environmental perspective, both sectors are also seen as challenging, because increasing demand within each of the sectors is exerting increasing pressures on the environment and climate. Their joint consideration in this TERM 2017 report also reflects key similarities, opportunities and challenges between them.

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Number of people exposed to night-time noise (Lnight) ≥ 50 dB

Data Visualization 30 Nov 2018

Number of people exposed to average day-evening-night noise levels (Lden) ≥ 55 dB

Data Visualization 30 Nov 2018

Real change in transport prices by mode

Indicator Assessment 22 Nov 2018

The cost of purchasing motor cars has decreased significantly since 1996, compared with average consumer prices. In contrast, the cost of passenger services and the operation of personal transport equipment has generally increased over the same period. The volatility of the transport market can be seen by looking at figures for 2009, when overall transport prices fell at a faster rate than average consumer prices. This was primarily because of a significant drop in the average crude oil price between 2008 and 2009, and subsequent reductions in fuel prices. Rail transport prices are less closely tied to the costs of fuel as most services operate under ‘public service obligations’ and an increasing proportion of passenger rail is electric-powered. Overall, transport prices appeared to peak in 2012, largely driven by a peak in the price of operating personal transport equipment.

Transport fuel prices and taxes

Indicator Assessment 22 Nov 2018

Since 1980, the real price (including taxes) of transport fuel* has fluctuated between EUR 0.75 and EUR 1.25 per litre, with an average price of EUR 0.97. Real prices per litre peaked in July 2008, reaching EUR 1.24, but then fell by around one third later that year, largely due to a significant drop in the price of crude oil. Another peak occurred in August 2012, when fuel prices reached EUR 1.25. Since then fuel prices have fallen again, reaching a low of EUR 0.84 in February 2016. The first months of 2018 show a decreasing trend. The average real price in April 2018 was EUR 0.99 per litre. The price of fuel is an important determinant of the demand for transport and the efficiency with which fuel is used. However, despite a slight increase in real prices over the last two decades, transport demand has increased even more. The price of transport fuel without taxes follows a similar trend; since 1980, it has fluctuated between EUR 0.18 and EUR 0.65 per litre, with an average price of EUR 0.38. Real prices per litre peaked in June 2008, but then fell by around one third later that year, largely because of a significant drop in the price of crude oil. Another peak occurred in September 2012, when fuel prices reached EUR 0.63. Since then, fuel prices have fallen again, reaching a low of EUR 0.28 in February 2016. The first months of 2018 show a decreasing trend. The average real price in April 2018 was EUR 0.41 per litre.

Fuel Quality Directive

Data 03 Jul 2018

By 31st of August each year the Member States must submit a summary of fuel quality monitoring data collected during the period January to December of the previous calendar year, in accordance with Article 8(1) of Directive 98/70/EC as amended by Directive 2009/30/EC. The delivery process is managed by EEA.

Monitoring of CO2 emissions from vans – Regulation 510/2011

Data 17 May 2018

The Regulation (EU) No 510/2011 requires Member States to record information for each new van registered in its territory. Every year, each Member State shall submit to the Commission all the information related to their new registrations. In particular, the following details are required for each new van registered: manufacturer name, type approval number, type, variant, version, make and commercial name, specific emissions of CO2, mass of the vehicle, wheel base, track width, fuel type and fuel mode. Additional information, such as engine power and engine capacity were also submitted.

Average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars sold in EU-28 Member States plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland in 2016

Figure 12 Apr 2018

The maps reports the average CO2 emissions (g CO2/km) from new passenger cars registered in 2016 by country.

Towns and industrial activities in the Arctic

Figure 14 Jun 2017

Major activities already exist in the European Arctic, including high population density, infrastructure and economic engagement both on-shore and off-shore.

The NOISE Observation & Information Service for Europe

GIS Map Application 05 May 2017

Noise pollution is a major environmental concern in Europe. Explore NOISE maps to see environmental noise from roads, railways, airports, industry and in cities where you live.

Fuel types and GHG emissions

Infographic 29 Jun 2016

Transport demand is closely linked to economic activity: in periods of growth, economic output goes up, more goods are transported and more people travel. The impacts of transport on human health, the environment and climate change are closely linked to the choice of fuel. Clean alternative fuels, including electricity, are already available and can constitute viable options to petrol and diesel. Trip length plays a role in determining the suitability of the fuel type.

Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger transport

Infographic 29 Jun 2016

A wide range of transport options exists, but choosing the one with lowest emissions is not always straightforward. One way to measure your environmental impact is to look at the CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre travelled.

EU progress in meeting emission ceilings set out in the NECD Annexes I and II

Figure 10 Jun 2016

EU progress in meeting emission ceilings (for compliance and for environmental objectives) of the four main air pollutants regulated in the 2001 National Emission Ceilings Directive