Mots-clés : Transport et mobilité

Transport and Environment - Bulletin / News and views from the field of transport and environment in Europe

The printable version of the December 2010 Bulletin can be downloaded from our website.

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This month:

Could this be the breakthrough in tackling shipping’s climate impact?

Shipping could become the first industry to have a global carbon dioxide reduction measure. A legislative process has been set in motion at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which, if approved, could see obligatory energy efficiency standards for new ships come into effect in 2013. A vote is expected at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in July.

MEPs add weight to land-use concerns

A group of MEPs has written to leading commissioners, expressing ‘serious concern’ about the issue of indirect land-use change (Iluc) caused by biofuels production. Their letter follows the publication last month of a report commissioned by nine NGOs showing the additional emissions of greenhouse gases likely to be caused by an increase in use of biofuels if EU biofuels policy doesn’t change. It also comes amid signs that the biofuels industry is struggling to attract finance.

MEPs and ministers weaken vans legislation

Efforts to reduce emissions from vans look set to be severely watered down, as the EU’s first law on limiting carbon dioxide from light commercial vehicles nears completion.

Rethink of EU budget could be a win/win situation

A win/win situation in which spending by the European Union achieves better value for money at the same time as promoting more environmentally sensitive solutions has been put forward by seven NGOs, including T&E.

Sowing the seeds of smarter transport policy

Opinion
by Jos Dings - T&E Director
Did we miss something? Last year, the European Commission didn’t propose a single new legislative measure to clean up transport. To be fair, it has been spending most of its time worrying about the future of the Eurozone. As a result, for T&E this was the sort of year where seeds for smarter transport policy were sown. We’re optimistic that next year could bring a decent crop of positive changes.

‘The greatest wave of innovation since the war’

A German scientist has described measures to encourage smaller, more fuel-efficient engines and lighter vehicles as ‘the greatest wave of innovation since the second world war’.

Poland to join lorry km charge club

Poland is set to join the club of EU member states that have introduced a distance-based charge for lorries. An electronic charge applicable to all vehicles above 3.5 tonnes (including buses) using national roads is due to come into effect on 1 July 2011, but the price per kilometre has not yet been agreed.

Ministers question rail noise bonus

Negotiations on opening up national railway networks to European competition have hit an unexpected setback. EU transport ministers registered opposition to a proposal contained in the revised EU rail package to offer ‘noise bonuses’ for quieter wagons.

Commission consults on marine fuel sulphur

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on reducing the sulphur content of marine fuels. Interest parties have until 5 January to reply.

Cleaner cars mean more jobs at BMW

The German car maker BMW wants to recruit 2600 new employees in the next few months as part of efforts to make its fleet more environment-friendly.

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