Transport is Europe’s biggest climate problem, representing 27% of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions. Transport is the only major sector in which emissions have grown since 1990, driving an increase in the EU’s overall emissions in 2017. If the EU wants to deliver on the climate commitments made with the Paris Agreement, Europe needs smarter, more ambitious transport policies.
We believe Europe should have the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions and air and noise pollution from transport; zero-emission vehicles, planes and ships; and pricing that makes polluters pay for pollution, not society as a whole. Below is an overview of our main areas of work.
Air quality remains one of the major environmental problems. Europe needs well-enforced air pollution legislation for cars, trucks, diesel machines and ships.
Read more about Air quality and transport
T&E is working to reverse EU policy that has increased demand for food-based biofuels in transport – driving deforestation and releasing carbon emissions.
Read more about Biofuels
Trucks have a major impact on global warming, the air we breathe, and the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
Read more about Cleaner, safer trucks
Following the Dieselgate scandal, the EU overhauled the way cars are tested and approved. Learn more about reforms to combat emissions cheating by industry.
Read more about Dieselgate and stopping test cheating
As well as improving the efficiency of vehicles, the world needs to reduce the emissions from the production of transport fuels, including those from the dirtiest sources like tar sands and coal-to-liquid.
Read more about Dirty Oil
To limit the global temperature rise to 1.5ºC, car emissions must be zero by 2050 at the latest. That means we must be selling only electric cars – battery electric and hydrogen vehicles – in the early 2030s.
Read more about Electric cars
Flying is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the most climate-intensive form of transport.
Read more about Flying and climate change
Rail is one of the greener modes of transport and having a higher share of passenger and freight journeys performed by train is fundamental for decarbonising the transport sector.
Read more about Rail
Shipping is a growing source of transport greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution, causing health problems, acid rain and eutrophication.
Read more about Shipping and the environment
Europe needs sustainable finance policies – to make the right investments and send the right price signals – to decarbonise its transport sector.
Read more about Sustainable finance
The EU has binding climate targets for 2020 and 2030 which apply to transport. By signing the Paris Agreement, the EU also implicitly accepted 2050 targets.
Read more about Transport climate targets and the Paris Agreement
Vans are the fastest growing sources of CO2 emitted from transport, and they now account for 13% of road transport emissions in the EU.
Read more about Vans
Traffic noise has a major impact on human health. Yet it could easily be halved, with existing technology, if more stringent limits were adopted.
Read more about Vehicle noise
From 2014 to 2018, we campaigned to ensure trade deals like TTIP do not constrain Europe's power to legislate for the common good.
*This campaign is archived.
Read more about Better trade and regulation