Mots-clés : Transport et mobilité
Transport and Environment - Bulletin / News and views from the field of transport and environment in Europe
Shipping becomes first industry with global climate standard
Shipping has become the first industry to agree a global carbon dioxide reduction strategy. This month’s vote at the International Maritime Organisation approved the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships. T&E welcomed the decision, but says it cannot be seen as a solution on its own, especially because the EEDI will take many years to be truly effective.
EU emissions figures show cars are getting heavier again
The European car fleet is getting heavier again, partly because the EU’s carbon dioxide standards are more lenient for heavy cars than for light cars. That is one of the conclusions from new data published by the EU last month. Average CO2 emissions from new cars fell by 3.7% in 2010, but without the rise in overall weight, the reduction would have been around 5%.
Leaked ‘Iluc’ studies make it hard for EU not to act
Commission studies that have been leaked to the Reuters news agency show that the indirect land-use change caused by biofuels production is significant and feedstock-specific, and that biodiesel is likely to be worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
Distance-based lorry taxes spreading
The French government has confirmed it will introduce a distance-based tax on lorries at the beginning of 2013. The confirmation follows a legal challenge to the government’s decision to award the contract for collecting the tolls to an Italian company. The tax will apply to all lorries using national roads and some local roads.
Governments and NGOs fight EU case for airline emissions trading
The lawsuit brought by three American airlines against aviation’s introduction into the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme has come to court, with a preliminary judgement expected on 6 October.
Shipping shows aviation that climate action can happen
Opinion
By Jos Dings - T&E Director
This edition of the Bulletin is somewhat special. You will have seen it is the 200th, after exactly 20 years of operation. But it is also special because it is one of the few in which both aviation and shipping take centre stage. And because a divide between them is emerging. It is becoming increasingly clear that, while in the shipping sector the global community can actually take occasional steps forward, in aviation it is still the same old sad story of trying to stop progress from happening. Or even worse, trying to reverse it.
Rail freight grows, but still concerns about passengers in eastern Europe
Freight carried by rail is up, in particular in eastern Europe. The figures, from the European railway companies’ umbrella organisation CER, coincide with a report highlighting ‘significant potential’ for a shift to rail to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Are electrics really more climate-friendly than other cars?
Fears that electric and hybrid cars are no better environmentally than oil-fuelled cars have led to a study which shows that electrics and hybrids are better over the whole of their life, but not by as much as was originally thought.
Successful speed limit abandoned
Spain is to abandon its temporary 110 km/h motorway speed limit.
MEPs’ stand on tar sands
MEPs say the emerging EU-Canada trade deal should not affect how the EU treats tar sands fuels under the EU’s fuel quality directive.
President rejects LEZ law
The Czech president Vaclav Klaus has intervened to stop the Czech Republic introducing low-emissions zones.
Money for roadside victims
Hungary’s supreme court has awarded financial compensation to two residents who complained that their lives were made a misery and their houses reduced in value by speeding lorries along highway 86 in the west of the country.
Free car for child-free couples … and for the Pope
Officials in the Indian province of Rajasthan are so worried about population growth that they are offering couples a free car if they allow themselves to be sterilised.
