Skip to main content

Emissions disagreement

Criticisms have been made in Europe over the policy aimed at cutting the EU's transport emissions by 60% by 2050.
February 28, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Criticisms have been made in Europe over the policy aimed at cutting the EU's transport emissions by 60% by 2050. This policy has been revealed as being somewhat optimistic by a majority of Europe's transport ministers. The EU's 27 transport ministers have said that the 2465 European Commission's proposals to cut transport emissions by 60% in 2050 compared to levels recorded in 1990 should not affect commercial competition with either Asia or North America. The issue is a contentious one. While Europe's politicians see the need to reduce the impact on the environment by the transport sector, they have recognised that this could deal a blow to Europe's economic interests. A move away from reliance on fossil fuels is seen as key to a reduction in transport emissions. However, with no single technology yet proving sufficiently robust to provide an assured long term solution, the 60% reduction in transport emissions by 2050 will have to be regarded as a desirable aim rather than a set target.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Better road safety reduces Europe’s casualty figures
    April 1, 2014
    Improving road safety in the EU has resulted in a drop in the fatality rate. Official figures just released show that the number of people killed on Europe's roads fell by 8% in 2013. This follows on from the drop in fatalities of between 2011 and 2012. These provisional figures released by the European Commission provide grounds for optimism and Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said, “We welcome the reduction in the number of road deaths in Europe last yea
  • 2013 Polis Conference urges greater coordination of EU urban transport policies
    December 10, 2013
    Participants at the 2013 Polis Conference in Brussels, Belgium have called for greater coordination of European policies that affect urban and regional transport. Around 350 mobility professionals from across Europe came to debate the continent’s urban and regional transport mobility during the annual event held under the title ‘Innovation in Transport for Sustainable Cities and Regions’. "We need coordination between European environment, climate, research, energy and transport policies as these have a d
  • New approach needed in Europe to help improve motorcycle safety
    August 22, 2012
    The European Commission is proposing that part of its controversial new Anti-Tampering regulations for motorcycles should be re-written to prevent custom motorcycle builders from using long-forks. This is the latest in a series of requirements in the regulations to attracted criticisms from motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, safety campaigners and enthusiasts groups.
  • High fuel prices impact on global trade
    February 27, 2012
    Official statistics can often reveal the blindingly obvious to anyone with the remotest level of common sense. A report from the UK's Office for National Statistics presents a fine example, stating that fewer journeys were made during the recession.