Published: Nov 10, 2011
Last modified: Nov 10, 2011
Emissions of many pollutants
from transport fell in 2009. But this reduction
may only be a temporary effect of the economic
downturn, according to the latest annual
report on transport emissions from the European
Environment Agency (EEA). The Transport
and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM)
explores the environmental impact of transport.
For the first time, the report considers
a comprehensive set of quantitative targets
proposed by the European Commission’s 2011
roadmap on transport.
Emissions levels of
almost all pollutants from transport fell
in 2009, as there was a drop in demand.
But this fall was due to the economic recession.
So now we need to see a more fundamental
shift in Europe’s transport system, so that
emissions do not increase even in times
of strong economic growth.
Emissions levels of
almost all pollutants from transport fell
in 2009, as there was a drop in demand.
But this fall was due to the economic recession.
So now we need to see a more fundamental
shift in Europe’s transport system, so that
emissions do not increase even in times
of strong economic growth.
"Emissions levels
of almost all pollutants from transport
fell in 2009, as there was a drop in demand,”
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive
Director, said. “But this fall was due to
the economic recession. So now we need to
see a more fundamental shift in Europe’s
transport system, so that emissions do not
increase even in times of strong economic
growth."
The EEA report on transport
and the environment shows that some efficiency
gains have been made. For example, new cars
in 2010 were approximately a fifth more
efficient than in 2000. However, these relatively
modest gains are often outpaced by growing
demand, even if the recession slowed activity
in some areas. Between 11000 and 2009, demand
for transport grew by approximately one
third, leading to a 27 % increase in greenhouse
gases (GHGs) from transport in the same
period.
New targets proposed
in the Commission’s Roadmap will frame policy
making at the European, national and municipal
level in order to tackle environmental issues
connected to transport. The report shows
there are significant opportunities for
policy makers to address these problems
coherently, for example by addressing air
quality and climate change together.
For the first time,
the EEA has developed a baseline to assess
progress towards the transport sector’s
environmental targets. These include targets
for greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption
and noise. A core set of 12 indicators has
been developed, spanning a wide range of
policy areas.
Key findings
Transport was responsible for 24 % of all
EU GHG emissions in 2009. The Roadmap states
that EU Member States are required to reduce
GHGs from transport by 60 % by 2050, compared
to 11000 levels. Since emissions actually
increased by 27 % between 11000 and 2009,
the EU must make an overall 68 % reduction
between 2009 and 2050.
Annual energy consumption
from transport grew continuously between
11000 and 2007 in the EEA member countries.
While total energy demand from transport
fell 4 % from 2007-2009, the upward trend
is likely to resume with economic growth.
Air quality objectives
were exceeded in many areas. For nitrogen
dioxide (NO2), which can cause asthma and
other respiratory problems, the annual limit
values were exceeded at 41 % of traffic
monitoring stations in 2009.
Particulate matter (PM10)
from transport also causes serious health
problems. In 2009 the daily limit value
for PM10 was exceeded at 30 % of the traffic
sites across the EU-27.
Almost 100 million people
were exposed to damaging long-term average
levels of noise from road vehicles on major
roads.
The average real price
of road transport fuels (calculated as unleaded
petrol equivalent, inclusive of duties and
taxes) was EUR 1.14 per litre in June 2011,
in real terms 15 % higher than in 1980.
This means that the price of petrol has
increased by less than 0.5 percentage points
per year in real terms on average, meaning
that fuel prices are not sending strong
signals to encourage more efficient transport
choices.
The share of alternative
fuelled cars on the road has grown steadily,
comprising more than 5 % of the fleet in
2009. Most of these were using liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG), while electric vehicles
made up 0.02 % of the total fleet.
Roads, railways and motorways are cutting
up Europe’s landscape into ever smaller
parcels, with serious consequences for biodiversity.
Nearly 30 % of land in the EU is moderately,
highly or very highly fragmented, restricting
movement and breeding of many different
species.
Notes for editors
The TERM report in context
‘Laying the foundations
for greener transport’ is the latest in
an annual series of reports published by
the European Environment Agency under the
Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism
(TERM).
The European Annual
Air Quality Report 2011 provides an overview
and analysis of air quality in Europe. The
evaluation of the status and trends of air
quality is based on ambient air measurements
(1999-2009), in conjunction with anthropogenic
emissions and their trends (11000-2009).
The TERM report includes
a chapter on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
from cars. In coming weeks, the EEA will
release updated data on manufacturers’ progress
towards CO2 targets for new cars. This will
be published on www.eea.europa.eu.
In 2012, the TERM report
will track progress against the baseline
established in this report for the first
time.
Definitions
Transport GHG emissions
were defined in the Kyoto Protocol agreement
as the emissions from the combustion and
evaporation of fuel for all transport activity,
regardless of the sector, but excluding
international aviation and maritime transport
(international bunker fuels). The GHG emissions
target for transport in the Commission’s
Roadmap is defined as the emissions counted
under the Kyoto Protocol, plus international
aviation (but excluding international maritime
transport). Figures are in CO2 equivalent.
Freight transport: This includes road (national
and international haulage of Heavy Good
Vehicles, including cross-trade and cabotage),
railways and inland waterways.
