REVIEWING PROGRESS ON IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

IEA PUBLISHES ITS LATEST ‘ENERGY EFFICIENCY MARKET REPORT’, WHICH INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR   

Given the importance of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate the impact of climate change on the planet, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) annual Energy Efficiency Market Report (EEMR) is becoming an important means of monitoring the actions that will help to achieve this aim. The IEA’s EEMR 2022 report, which was published on 2nd December 2022, reviewed progress in a range of sectors, including transport, with a particular focus on 2022’s energy crisis. Ian Skinner of  TEPR, along with TEPR Associate Marianne Pearson, supported the IEA in the development of the relevant sections of this year’s EEMR report.

The importance of monitoring progress in reducing GHG emissions

As the dust settles on the latest international climate change conference (COP27) in Egypt in November 2022, the IEA has published its annual Energy Efficiency Market Report for 2022. The record-breaking temperatures that have been seen in various parts of the world in 2022 underline the importance of taking extensive and immediate policy action to reduce GHG emissions. Otherwise, the chances of limiting the global temperature increase due to climate change to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as countries committed to in the context of the Paris Agreement, will become increasingly difficult to achieve.

Improving the energy efficiency of the transport sector  

There is a broad set of policy measures that will help to improve the energy efficiency of different sectors of the economy, including the transport sector, that will also contribute to reducing GHG emissions. Measures to improve energy efficiency in the transport sector can take a number of forms, including vehicle fuel economy standards and incentives to buy and use smaller, more efficient vehicles, as well as incentives and the deployment of recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The IEA’s report included an overview of relevant policy developments around the world in 2022.

The potential for a green recovery in the transport sector

The EEMR highlighted that investment in transport efficiency increased by almost 50% in 2022, largely as a result of a significant rise in the sales of electric vehicles, which again doubled in 2022 (after having also doubled in 2021). This increased uptake has been supported by various policies around the world. However, while the average energy efficiency of new road transport vehicles continues to improve, the pace of improvement is not yet in line with that needed to be consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Scenario. This underlines the importance of strengthening vehicle fuel economy standards and incentives. The EU has led the way by strengthening its own vehicle CO2 emission standards for cars and vans, on which TEPR supported the Commission, while proposals for stronger CO2 emission standards for trucks and buses in the EU are expected soon.

For More Information

Ian Skinner of TEPR, along with TEPR Associate Marianne Pearson, supported the IEA with relevant research and advice on the transport aspects of the EEMR 2022. For more information on the report, or TEPR’s work more generally, please contact Ian Skinner at TEPR (ian.skinner@tepr.co.uk), call +44 (0) 7521 063324 or see TEPR’s website, where you can also find the IEA’s EEMR 2022.

December 2022