Call for action to cut EU transport energy use

The European Commission should make a specific strategy for reducing energy use in transport, a group of EU experts has told the European Commission’s environment and transport advisory body. In a report, the group argues that until now EU energy policy in the transport sector has focused almost solely on energy efficiency. Other policies such as the trans-European transport network(TEN) might provide lower energy use by reducing congestion. But this would likely be offset by increases in long-distance journeys in the long term, the experts say.

The report calls for more demand-control policies, including increasing the cost of both motorised and freight transport. Such policies have “impressive”potential for energy reductions, it says. Without giving a specific deadline,the report argues that car traffic in Europe could be reduced by 10 per cent by implementing a series of measures ranging from eco-driving programmes to setting non-binding targets for energy consumption by 2020. Other impacts expected include a 10 per cent shift from road haulage to rail and inland waterways.