Title: European transport policy and the environmental response

Authors: Wolfgang Elsner

Addresses: Head of Unit, Directorate-General VII (Transport), European Commission, Rue de la Loi, B-I049 Brussels, Belgium

Abstract: It is well documented that demand for transport in the European Community has grown steadily over the last 20 years. We estimate that the average increase has been 2.3% for goods and 3.1% for passengers. All predictions point to a continuation of this trend. The areas of conflict between transport and the environment are known; they take the form of energy consumption, operational pollution, land intrusion, congestion and risks inherent to the carriage of dangerous goods. To correct environmental inefficiencies and improve the environmental performance of the transport sector, requires a full range of measures and initiatives adapted to the needs and characteristics of the different modes. They will also need to allow for the progressive integration of the modes in order to derive maximum benefits, economic and environmental, from intermodal transport in the largest possible sense.

Keywords: environmental impact; environmental regulations; European transport policy; vehicle emissions; intermodal transport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1995.063466

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1995 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.13-17

Published online: 15 Jul 2014 *

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