Policies to Decarbonise Transport in Europe: 80 by 50

This paper outlines a pathway for the European transport sector to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% compared to 2000 levels. The paper is based on a backcasting exercise that formulates a set of scenarios with different visions of society in the year 2050. The transport sector is a major and increasing source of GHGs in Europe and in other countries around the world. Transport emissions across the European Economic Area (EEA) have risen more than 20% over the period between 1990 and 2006, contrasting heavily with a reduction of 3% in emissions across other sectors. In order to ensure that climate change is kept to a manageable and adaptable 2 degree rise in global average temperature, it is increasingly being recognized that developed countries must reduce their emissions by approximately 80 to 95% by 2050. This paper is based on several studies that the Transport Research Library (TRL) has conducted in the past year, including a backcasting modeling exercise that formulates a set of scenarios – each with a different vision of the European society in 2050, which would be compatible with deep cuts in transport emissions. The paper demonstrates how an optimal mixture of a range of policies can support mitigation actions by: (1) avoiding unnecessary trips/trip lengths; (2) shifting to more carbon efficient modes; and (3) improving the carbon efficiency of all transport modes. The paper will highlight how both technological and behavioral change must be encouraged, for adequate emission reduction to be achieved. The paper also interprets the empirical findings in the context of the ongoing climate change negotiations, and sheds light on how Europe can take a lead on mitigation actions in the transport sector and transfer such efforts to other parts of the world.

• Record URL:
  https://aetransport.org/past-etc-papers/conference-papers-pre-2009/conference-papers-2010
• Corporate Authors:

  Association for European Transport (AET)

  1 Vernon Mews, Vernon Street, West Kensington
  London W14 0RL,    
• Authors:
  • Dalkmann, Holger
  • Ferris, Catherine
  • Tong, Ronit
  • Sakamoto, Ko
• Conference:
  • European Transport Conference, 2010
  • Location: Glasgow Scotland, United Kingdom
  • Date: 2010-10-11 to 2010-10-13
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Bibliography; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 21p
• Monograph Title: European Transport Conference, 2010 Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior modification; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Exhaust gases; Greenhouse gases; Pollutants; Trip chaining; Trip purpose
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emissions reduction
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Environment; Policy; Transportation (General); I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01350156
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 19 2011 7:36AM