ASSESSMENT OF EUROPEAN INITIATIVES TO REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS

In 1998, the 15 member states of the European Union (EU15) emitted 3,328 million tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) from anthropogenic sources (up 0.2% from 1990). The transport sector accounted for 28% of these emissions (up 15.3% from 1990). Per capita emissions fall in the range of 5.4 to 12.8 tonne compared to 20.6 tonne for the United States. As shown in this paper, the EU concentrates its efforts for reducing carbon emissions from the transport sector essentially to three areas of action: improving fuel efficiency in new cars, promoting rail transport and gradually shifting to alternative road fuels. Following an overview of these areas, it is concluded that, if the EU wants to limit carbon emissions from the transport sector in a cost-efficient way, it should re-think part of its strategy. More emphasis should be on making all emissions of CO2--including those from sea transport and aviation--subject to the same marginal incentive. Emissions trading or a tax regime where all fuels face the same CO2 charge could achieve this. This would make stakeholders put more emphasis on fuel efficiency and driving behaviour--in all modes of transport--and less on modal split and alternative fuels.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conf/asilomar.pdf
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  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Kageson, P
• Conference:
  • Transportation, Energy, and Environmental Policy: Managing Transitions
  • Location: Monterey, California
  • Date: 2001-9-11 to 2001-9-12
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 204-228

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Carbon dioxide; Emissions trading; Engine efficiency; Evaluation and assessment; Fuel conservation; Fuel consumption; Modal split; Motor vehicles; Strategic planning; Taxation
• Identifier Terms: European Union
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962793
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309085713
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 5 2003 12:00AM