Last week, the European Commission presented its new transport strategy. The strategy places emphasis on climate and sustainable development, and sets ambitious targets for reducing emissions in the transport sector.
The strategy is firmly anchored in the "EU Green Plans" that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector by 90 percent by 2050. - Greenhouse gas emissions in today's EU have been reduced by almost 25 percent since 1990, while emissions of transport gases increased by almost 30 percent from 1990 to 2017.
If the EU is to meet its climate goals, transport emissions must be significantly reduced, says Tom O. Johnsen, Environment Councilor in the Norwegian EU delegation. The Commission has made it clear that climate and environment will be key prerequisites for the further development of the transport sector.
"It is clear that all modes of transport must be more sustainable, there must be alternatives and there must be adequate incentives for the Commission to be successful in meeting its goals," says Carsten Horn-Hanssen, Transport Council in the EU delegation.
Future measures will aim to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. First of all, switching from road to rail and taking into account the real costs that transport imposes on society. The strategy refers to the fact that the external climate and environmental costs related to transport in the EU amount to EUR 388 billion per year.
The Commission believes that the strategy sends a clear signal that fuels must be carbon neutral in the future and that sustainable renewable or low carbon fuels should be used on a larger scale without delay. Digitization is underlined as a prerequisite for a modern transport system. The Commission believes that the EU must actively shape the transport solutions of the future with new technologies and that innovation should be facilitated.
Consequences for Norway?
The new transport strategy will also influence Norwegian transport policy in the future. Norwegian government has set itself the target of halving greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 2030. - Norway is well-prepared to meet the ambitions of this strategy, not least because we have already come a long way in terms of zero- and low-emission transport solutions.
According to Horn-Hanssen, the joint European impetus for intelligent and sustainable transport is positive for both UE and for Norway. Milestones of the Commission These are some of the upcoming milestones that have been outlined in the strategy. By 2030:
- At least 30 million zero emission cars.
- 100 climate neutral cities.
- Doubling of passenger traffic on high-speed trains.
- Carbon neutral public transport of less than 500 km.
- Large-scale implementation of autonomous vehicles.
- Carbon-free ships must be ready for the market. By 2035:
-Large zero emission aircraft must be ready for the market.
By 2050:
- Almost all passenger cars, vans, buses and new trucks must be emission-free vehicles.
- Doubling of freight train traffic.
- Triple passenger traffic with high-speed trains.
- Complete the entire Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
