Consultation response: 2030 climate and energy policy for transport

July 2, 2013

This paper is a response from Transport & Environment to the consultation in the context of the European Commission Green Paper ‘A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies’. The response focuses on the framework for EU climate and energy policies in transport.

It makes the following points:
  • By 2030, 90% of Europe’s oil consumption will be imported. The EU currently imports oil at a cost of about €1bn every day. This implies that for the EU, policies to cut transport energy use and to substitute oil with truly sustainable alternatives will remain a win/win from both an energy and climate standpoint.
  • The Transport White Paper target for transport sector greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for 2030 – a 20% reduction from 2008 levels – is woefully inadequate. It should be tightened to a 45% reduction, if required annual improvements to 2050 are to remain constant.
  • At a general level, inclusion of surface transport in the ETS would be counterproductive; instead we recommend intensification and reform ofthe way transport fuel is taxed (pay where you drive, not where you fill up) as well as further progress in road user charging.

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