European
Federation for Transport and Environment
Secretariat
Bd De Waterloo 34, 1000 Brussels Tel + 32 / 2 / 502 9909 Fax : + 32 / 2 / 502
9908 homepage: www.t-e.nu e-mail:
info@t-e.nu
Briefing
How sustainable is
the motor-car?
Any answer to this question has to make reference to the three dimensions of sustainability, i. e. the economy, the environment and the society and hence apply the three 3 I’s of sustainable transport policies, i.e. internalisation, integration, intermodality. Consequently, a truly sustainable car has internalised its external costs, leaves as small an ecological footprint as possible and connects well with other transport modes.
§ Economic sustainability through internalisation
The sustainable car-economy is based upon the polluter pays principle. This means that the community of car-producers and consumers is held financially responsible for the damage it inflicts upon nature and culture. In order to internalise the social and environmental costs of car-use, a Europe-wide charging system has to be introduced. The revenues from such charges ought to be used for sustainable transport projects only.
§ Environmental sustainability through integration
An environmentally sustainable car, is a car that is smoothly integrated into its different environments. The principle here is “integrating the environment into the transport sector by integrating the car into its transport environment”. The sustainable car is just one means of transportation – not the means of transportation. It is one link in a chain of vehicles that are essential to ensure door-to-door trips and, hence, access to goods and services. In order to provide such access future transport policies have to improve the availability of alternative modes and allow for a frictionless interchange between private and public transport.
§
Social sustainability through intermodality
Socially
sustainable transport is based on equity – it demands fair and equal
transport opportunities for everyone. Traditionally, the automobile has
contributed to social distinction and exclusion rather than equity, and has
produced just as many social problems than it has solved. The private car, as
we know it, cannot be considered socially sustainable. Consequently, to render
it socially sustainable we have to alter the social nature of the car – from
a private car to a public car, from owning a car to using a car.
More information
Jörg Beckmann, T&E Policy
Officer, joerg.beckmann@t-e.nu or
+32-2-502 9909