Low-carbon transport fuel policy for Europe post-2020

To meet the EU long-term targets to reduce transport’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, action will be needed to reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels consumed, to improve the energy efficiency of transport vehicles and to improve the efficiency of the overall transport system. The EU White Paper for Transport – ‘Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system’ seeks to dramatically reduce Europe’s dependence on imported oil and sets the goal of cutting carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels).

There is an increasing urgency to focus on decarbonising the EU transport sector. This reflects the reality that, despite policies in place to increase efficiency and reduce GHG emission growth, the transport sector has made limited progress in reducing its GHG emissions and this trend is considered likely to continue post-2020.