I have always tried to be as environmentally cautious as possible as our planet is over-populated and we do not have the resources for everyone. Whether it's consuming a vegan diet, recycling, gardening, turning off lights, conserving electricity and water (arguemently my student status drives this one) and using public transport rather than owning my own vehicle, I think its safe to say I do my part. It's no secret that transport plays a huge part on a user's carbon footprint and governments seem to want to reduce this as much as possible including options such as low emission, electric cars. However, there is still more to be done.
I contacted a few well known environmental groups via email requesting information on what the current impact transport has on our environment. One response I received came from 'Transport & Environment' who gave me some facts and figures in addition to linking me to further information.
I contacted a few well known environmental groups via email requesting information on what the current impact transport has on our environment. One response I received came from 'Transport & Environment' who gave me some facts and figures in addition to linking me to further information.
Hey Ciara,
For Europe, the answer is in this graph:
For Europe, the answer is in this graph:
And this does not take into account the noise and air pollution impact of ships, planes, cars, vans, trains and lorries.
If you want more info on impacts, please visit the different campaigns in our site: http://www.transportenvironment.org/what-we-do
Best regards,
Nico
If you want more info on impacts, please visit the different campaigns in our site: http://www.transportenvironment.org/what-we-do
Best regards,
Nico
'Transport & Environmental' Campaigns
Air pollution
Air is essential for life but polluted air can kill. In spite of the existing legislation, air pollution remains one of the major environmental problems in Europe. In order to protect its citizens and its environment, Europe needs strict and enforced air pollution legislation. Sector-specific legislation, such as for road vehicles (cars, vans and trucks), diesel machinery (construction machinery, inland water vessels and locomotives) and seagoing ships, is key to achieving clean air in Europe. The EU urgently needs to tighten its road, diesel machine and ship emissions legislation.
Find out more about this campaign
Aviation
Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector and the most climate-intensive form of transport. Aviation emissions have more than doubled in the last twenty years and the sector accounts for 4.9% of total worldwide emissions contributing to climate change. Aviation has always received special treatment, for example it is not subject to any fuel tax or VAT. T&E campaigns, together with members of the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation, for global targets to reduce emissions within the aviation sector and for removing exemptions on fuel taxation and VAT for airlines in the EU.
Find out more about this campaign
Better trade and regulation
The EU has long been a global force for cleaner transport. As a first mover, its standards have not only benefited citizens but given European industry a huge advantage by setting examples in transport regulation that are often replicated by emerging markets. Recently there have been moves by some to slow down or stop this trend – through trade deals like TTIP and CETA and EU initiatives such as ‘REFIT’ and the Better Regulation agenda. This campaign aims to retain and, where possible, improve Europe’s ability, and willingness, to legislate for the common good in general, and for more sustainable transport in particular.
Find out more about this campaign
Biofuels
If left unchanged, EU legislation promoting biofuels for transport will lead to higher, not lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. T&E and other environmental organisations are campaigning for Europe to address the environmental impact of indirect land use change (ILUC) caused by biofuel production. Read the drivers & impacts of Europe's biofuel policy, download our briefing on ILUC and take a look at our report into how the EU could manage the impact of an ILUC-based policy on existing biofuels production.
Find out more about this campaign
Cars and CO2
One of the most important steps Europe can take to save drivers money, combat climate change, and create high-tech jobs is to require carmakers to produce more efficient vehicles. In 2008, the EU introduced legally-binding CO2 standards, for the first time setting a goal that, on average, new cars sold in Europe in 2015 should emit 130 grammes of CO2 per kilometre. This weak target has been met early, and most carmakers are on track to meet the 2021 goal of 95g. Half the improvement results from carmakers manipulating the obsolete test that must be replaced in 2017. The Commission also needs to make a new proposal for 2025 standards for cars and vans in 2016.
Find out more about this campaign
Cleaner, safer lorries
Trucking poses a major challenge for the environment and road safety. Around three-quarters of freight in Europe is delivered by lorry, and road freight transport is one of the sub-sectors of the transport industry with the fastest growing CO2 emissions and fuel use. Every year the EU imports around 500 million barrels (€60bn) of oil to fuel its lorry fleet, which makes the EU economy vulnerable to oil price fluctuations.
Find out more about this campaign
Dirty Oil
As well as improving the efficiency of vehicles, the world needs to reduce the emissions that result from the production of transport fuels. That means improving refinery efficiency, cleaning up the dirtiest sources like tar sands and coal-to-liquid and stopping wasteful gas flaring.
Find out more about this campaign
EU Transport PolicyTo get to a sustainable low carbon economy by 2050, Europe needs to cut emissions from transport by at least 60% compared to 1990: that’s a cut of 70% compared to today’s emissions. This presents a very serious challenge, in particular for freight, where increasing truck traffic, modal shift from rail to road and stagnating lorry fuel economy have dominated the last two decades.
Find out more about this campaign
Shipping
Shipping is one of the fastest growing sources of transport greenhouse gas emissions, and is also a major source of air pollution causing health problem, acid rain and eutrophication. Like aviation, the sector's international emissions were excluded from the 1997 Kyoto climate targets with responsibility instead handed to a UN global regulator, the IMO. T&E works, together with other members of the Clean Shipping Coalition, to reduce the air pollution and climate impacts of shipping globally and in Europe.
Find out more about this campaign
Vans
Fuel bills represent one third of the total cost of ownership of a van and high oil prices make fuel an increasingly important business cost. At the same time vans are one of the fastest growing sources of CO2 emitted from transport, increasing by 26% between 1995 and 2010 and now accounting for 8% of road transport emissions. To improve fuel efficiency and counter rising emissions, binding CO2 standards for vans were agreed in 2010. For 2020 a target of 147 g/km (5,6 l/100km) was agreed.
T&E wants the EU to tighten the fuel efficiency targets for vans to 118 g/km or 4,5 l/100km - equivalent to the corresponding 2020 target for cars. This would double the fuel savings compared to the 147 g/km target to €825 per year.
Find out more about this campaign
Vehicle Noise
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise is second only to air pollution in the impact it has on health. It is a major cause, not only of hearing loss, but also of heart disease, learning problems in children and sleep disturbance. Yet traffic noise could easily be halved, with existing technology, if more stringent limits were adopted. T&E is working at the EU and global level for tighter restrictions on sources of transport noise including cars, lorries and trains.
Air pollution
Air is essential for life but polluted air can kill. In spite of the existing legislation, air pollution remains one of the major environmental problems in Europe. In order to protect its citizens and its environment, Europe needs strict and enforced air pollution legislation. Sector-specific legislation, such as for road vehicles (cars, vans and trucks), diesel machinery (construction machinery, inland water vessels and locomotives) and seagoing ships, is key to achieving clean air in Europe. The EU urgently needs to tighten its road, diesel machine and ship emissions legislation.
Find out more about this campaign
Aviation
Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector and the most climate-intensive form of transport. Aviation emissions have more than doubled in the last twenty years and the sector accounts for 4.9% of total worldwide emissions contributing to climate change. Aviation has always received special treatment, for example it is not subject to any fuel tax or VAT. T&E campaigns, together with members of the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation, for global targets to reduce emissions within the aviation sector and for removing exemptions on fuel taxation and VAT for airlines in the EU.
Find out more about this campaign
Better trade and regulation
The EU has long been a global force for cleaner transport. As a first mover, its standards have not only benefited citizens but given European industry a huge advantage by setting examples in transport regulation that are often replicated by emerging markets. Recently there have been moves by some to slow down or stop this trend – through trade deals like TTIP and CETA and EU initiatives such as ‘REFIT’ and the Better Regulation agenda. This campaign aims to retain and, where possible, improve Europe’s ability, and willingness, to legislate for the common good in general, and for more sustainable transport in particular.
Find out more about this campaign
Biofuels
If left unchanged, EU legislation promoting biofuels for transport will lead to higher, not lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. T&E and other environmental organisations are campaigning for Europe to address the environmental impact of indirect land use change (ILUC) caused by biofuel production. Read the drivers & impacts of Europe's biofuel policy, download our briefing on ILUC and take a look at our report into how the EU could manage the impact of an ILUC-based policy on existing biofuels production.
Find out more about this campaign
Cars and CO2
One of the most important steps Europe can take to save drivers money, combat climate change, and create high-tech jobs is to require carmakers to produce more efficient vehicles. In 2008, the EU introduced legally-binding CO2 standards, for the first time setting a goal that, on average, new cars sold in Europe in 2015 should emit 130 grammes of CO2 per kilometre. This weak target has been met early, and most carmakers are on track to meet the 2021 goal of 95g. Half the improvement results from carmakers manipulating the obsolete test that must be replaced in 2017. The Commission also needs to make a new proposal for 2025 standards for cars and vans in 2016.
Find out more about this campaign
Cleaner, safer lorries
Trucking poses a major challenge for the environment and road safety. Around three-quarters of freight in Europe is delivered by lorry, and road freight transport is one of the sub-sectors of the transport industry with the fastest growing CO2 emissions and fuel use. Every year the EU imports around 500 million barrels (€60bn) of oil to fuel its lorry fleet, which makes the EU economy vulnerable to oil price fluctuations.
Find out more about this campaign
Dirty Oil
As well as improving the efficiency of vehicles, the world needs to reduce the emissions that result from the production of transport fuels. That means improving refinery efficiency, cleaning up the dirtiest sources like tar sands and coal-to-liquid and stopping wasteful gas flaring.
Find out more about this campaign
EU Transport PolicyTo get to a sustainable low carbon economy by 2050, Europe needs to cut emissions from transport by at least 60% compared to 1990: that’s a cut of 70% compared to today’s emissions. This presents a very serious challenge, in particular for freight, where increasing truck traffic, modal shift from rail to road and stagnating lorry fuel economy have dominated the last two decades.
Find out more about this campaign
Shipping
Shipping is one of the fastest growing sources of transport greenhouse gas emissions, and is also a major source of air pollution causing health problem, acid rain and eutrophication. Like aviation, the sector's international emissions were excluded from the 1997 Kyoto climate targets with responsibility instead handed to a UN global regulator, the IMO. T&E works, together with other members of the Clean Shipping Coalition, to reduce the air pollution and climate impacts of shipping globally and in Europe.
Find out more about this campaign
Vans
Fuel bills represent one third of the total cost of ownership of a van and high oil prices make fuel an increasingly important business cost. At the same time vans are one of the fastest growing sources of CO2 emitted from transport, increasing by 26% between 1995 and 2010 and now accounting for 8% of road transport emissions. To improve fuel efficiency and counter rising emissions, binding CO2 standards for vans were agreed in 2010. For 2020 a target of 147 g/km (5,6 l/100km) was agreed.
T&E wants the EU to tighten the fuel efficiency targets for vans to 118 g/km or 4,5 l/100km - equivalent to the corresponding 2020 target for cars. This would double the fuel savings compared to the 147 g/km target to €825 per year.
Find out more about this campaign
Vehicle Noise
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise is second only to air pollution in the impact it has on health. It is a major cause, not only of hearing loss, but also of heart disease, learning problems in children and sleep disturbance. Yet traffic noise could easily be halved, with existing technology, if more stringent limits were adopted. T&E is working at the EU and global level for tighter restrictions on sources of transport noise including cars, lorries and trains.