Skip to main content

EU sets emissions targets to 2030, richer countries bear the burden

The UK’s Freight Transport Association (FTA) and FIA Europe have welcomed the European Commission’s package of measures, presented this week, to accelerate the transition to low carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe. The EU says the measures set clear and fair guiding principles to Member States to prepare for the future and keep Europe competitive. Responding to the announcement, the FTA said that the proposed measures are a step in the right direction to reducing freight carbon e
July 22, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
The UK’s 6983 Freight Transport Association (FTA) and FIA Europe have welcomed the European Commission’s package of measures, presented this week, to accelerate the transition to low carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe.

The EU says the measures set clear and fair guiding principles to Member States to prepare for the future and keep Europe competitive.

Responding to the announcement, the FTA said that the proposed measures are a step in the right direction to reducing freight carbon emissions.  It welcomed elements of the communication and noted that the strategy does not focus on only one or two specific measures but lists a variety of measures, recognising that there is not just one solution to help decarbonise transport.

While the FIA in Europe welcomed the proposals, saying the continued focus on car efficiency is important in the effort to achieve low carbon mobility, Jacob Bangsgaard, FIA Region I Director General said “at the same time it is also important to develop mobility solutions which seamlessly connect different modes of transport according to customers’ specific needs.”

In 2014, EU leaders agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels across all sectors of the economy. The latest proposals present binding greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States from 2021-2030 for the transport, buildings, agriculture, waste and land use and forestry sectors.

Under the Effort Sharing Regulation, the plans for the 28 EU member states put the onus on Sweden, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Britain, France and Austria as the bloc seeks to meet its commitment to cut emissions by 40 per cent over 1990 levels.

Under the targets, which are based on economic growth, Sweden and Luxembourg must cut emissions by 40 per cent over 2005 levels, while Finland and Denmark must cut emissions by 39 per cent and Germany by 38 per cent. Britain and France are asked to cut emissions by 37 per cent while Netherlands and Austria should cut by 36 per cent.

Pauline Bastidon FTA head of European Policy said, “There is no one size fits all approach to reducing freight carbon emissions – a whole package of operational and technical measures are required for the sector to make a contribution to climate change reduction targets. An effective framework for low emission alternative energy and an adequate roll-out of infrastructure for alternative fuels are key for us and can go a long way in helping the logistics sector reduce its carbon footprint.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • FIA demands better solutions than road pricing for mobility
    November 5, 2014
    The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I took part in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee recent open hearing on road user charging, speaking on behalf of Europe’s motorists. The hearing was held to debate road user charging and how it can be tackled on an EU-wide basis. The FIA highlighted the amount that drivers and motorcyclists already pay in taxes and offered viable alternative solutions to road pricing, such as strict targets for emissions thresholds, park and ride sta
  • European Mobility-as-a-Service Alliance launched
    October 6, 2015
    Twenty European organisations have joined forces to establish the first Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Alliance. This new initiative will work towards a truly European and common approach to MaaS through public and private stakeholder cooperation, providing the basis for the economy of scale needed for a successful implementation in Europe. The Alliance will be officially launched in the Finnish Pavilion (C37) at the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux on 6 October at 1300. The key concept behind MaaS is to
  • Reducing transport energy use with real time travel information
    January 23, 2012
    The In-Time project is looking at the effect that multi-modal real-time traveller information services can have of reducing transport's energy consumption levels. By Martin Böhm, AustriaTech GmbH. Around the world, significant research and development effort is currently directed towards reducing energy consumption by addressing those areas where the biggest savings can be expected. European studies have shown that the transport sector has the potential to reduce its energy consumption by up to 26 per cent
  • M6 should be priority for Government investment, drivers tell FTA
    December 20, 2016
    The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has been looking at stretches of the UK’s strategic road network that would most benefit from Government investment following the Chancellor’s commitment in his Autumn Statement to fund improvements to congestion hot spots. Philip Hammond said the Government would spend IS$1.6 billion (£1.3 billion) on improving England’s roads, including US$222 million (£220 million) on tackling congestion at pinch points and US$33 million (£27 million) on an expressway connecting Ox