EC plans to halve use of oil and gas-fuelled cars in cities by 2030 and remove them by 2050
Mon 28 March 2011
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The European Commission plans to halve the use of oil- and gas-fuelled cars in urban areas by 2030 and “phase them out by 2050”, according to a new EU ‘road map’ for future transport policy.
The reduction of fossil-fuelled vehicles from cities is a part of the overall strategy for cutting CO2 emissions from transport by 60% by 2050. The Commission says that the objective of car-free cities by 2050 is to be pursued through fiscal measures, promotion of alternative transport systems, and building of the necessary infrastructure to move to a widespread use of electric and other clean cars. The Commission suggests a review of national rules and practices accordingly, where it is not already the case.
Also in the Commission’s plan are proposals to reduce road transport in favour of rail and water borne traffic. The Commission wants to shift 30% of road freight over 300 km to other low carbon modes by 2030, and says this target is likely to be raised to more than 50% by 2050. Cross-border road transport is likely to be the first segment affected by the application of such a measure.
The Commission says it is also considering joint public procurement for low emission vehicles in commercial fleets, for example of delivery vans or taxis.
Announcing the ‘roadmap’ Siim Kallas, the EU Transport Commissioner, said: “The widely held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is simply not true. Competitive transport systems are vital for Europe’s ability to compete in the world, for economic growth, job creation and for peoples’ everyday quality of life.”
T&E, the Brussels-based NGO, said that the White Paper postpones serious transport CO2 cuts. While it welcomes the transport target, it says the plan for reaching it is insufficient because it postpones short-term action to the point where emissions reductions will ‘magically’ have to intensify after 2030.
The European car makers' association, ACEA, welcomed some aspects of the roadmap but criticised others. Ivan Hodac, ACEA's Secretary-General said: “A simple call for a decrease in the use of motor vehicles will not provide the easy solution it appears to be, because there will not be less demand for the flexible solutions that road transport provides in contrast to other modes. Road transport plays a capital role and cannot be confronted with arbitrary measures.”
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