REVIEWING PROGRESS ON IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

TEPR report on car sharing

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.

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SUPPORTING UGANDA IN ASSESSING ITS EMISSION REDUCTION POTENTIAL IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

 

REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS – SUPPORTING UGANDA IN ASSESSING ITS MITIGATION POTENTIAL IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR   

Under the so-called “Paris Agreement”, the UN agreement that commits countries to reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to mitigate climate change, governments have to commit to reducing their GHG emissions. They do this through the development and submission of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are updated as necessary. Ian Skinner of TEPR worked with colleagues at Ricardo and GIZ to support the Government of Uganda to assess and model the country’s GHG reduction potential from its transport sector. This will help the country optimise the contribution of the transport sector to the country’s NDC, as well as supporting it in making decisions about the implementation of GHG emissions reduction policies for the country’s transport sector.

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TEPR SUPPORTS THE COMMISSION TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE TO DECARBONISE TRANSPORT FUELS

SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EU LEGISLATION ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE

In order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the transport sector, it is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of fossil fuels that the transport sector uses. Indeed, a virtual phase out of the use of fossil fuels will be needed by 2050. For vehicles using alternative low and zero emission fuels to be able to operate, there needs to be sufficient infrastructure to enable these vehicles to recharge or refuel. TEPR, as part of a consortium, supported the European Commission in both the evaluation and development of EU legislation that aims to ensure that there is sufficient refuelling/recharging infrastructure for alternative fuels. 

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TEPR SUPPORTS EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EU’S ITS POLICY FRAMEWORK

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS – ENSURING THAT THEY SUPPORT LOW CARBON TRANSPORT

As digital technology continues to develop, a wider range of intelligent transport systems (ITS) will become available. These will eventually (potentially) lead to the mass deployment of self-drive or autonomous vehicles, which can navigate without the need for a driver. At the same time, it is important that all technologies support the transition to zero emission transport, in order to address the climate change crisis. TEPR, as part of a wider consortium, has supported the European Commission in the development of its proposal to revise the ITS Directive, the legislation that sets the EU policy framework for the development of ITS. The Commission published its proposal to revise the ITS Directive as part of December 2021’s Green Mobility package.  

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TEPR SUPPORTS EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN ENSURING THAT TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTS THE ZERO EMISSION AMBITION

TRANSFORMING THE EU’S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT LOW CARBON TRANSPORT

The development of a coherent, cross-border transport infrastructure network has long been an objective of EU transport policy. Prior to joining the EU, countries had developed their transport infrastructure networks to suit national needs, whereas a pan-European network is needed to support a pan-European, integrated European economy. Hence, the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) was born.

Now, with the need to develop a transport system that is consistent with the EU’s decarbonisation ambitions for transport, the TEN-T needs to be developed to support a low carbon transport system. TEPR, as part of a wider consortium, supported the European Commission in the analysis of specific aspects of TEN-T policy to support the revision of the relevant legislative framework, the TEN-T Guidelines. The Commission published its proposal to revise the TEN-T Guidelines as part of December 2021’s Green Mobility package.  

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SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON GREENING TRANSPORT

INTEGRATING THE ENVIRONMENT INTO TRANSPORT POLICY

The integration of environmental considerations into all areas of policy is important to protect the environment. Environmental problems are increasingly global, with climate change and air pollution caused by similar activities around the world. Hence, there are – at least to some extent – common solutions. In 2019, the EU and China embarked on their latest Environmental Policy Dialogue under which they collaborated on greening their respective economies. Ian Skinner of TEPR contributed to a report, in the context of this Policy Dialogue, on how environmental considerations can be integrated into different sectors, and especially transport policy, drawing on lessons from the EU.  

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IMPROVING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF RAIL FREIGHT IN THE EU

EVALUATING THE RAIL FREIGHT CORRIDORS REGULATION 

Railways have the potential to play an important role in an integrated, multi-modal, sustainable transport system. To do so, they must be able to compete with other modes and rail travel across the borders between EU Member States must be as easy as it is for other modes. However, as national rail systems were developed to serve national – rather than pan-European – needs, they still often have different standards and are governed by different regulatory systems. EU policy on rail, including on rail freight, has tried to address such interoperability concerns in order to help make rail more competitive. TEPR was part of a consortium that supported the European Commission in evaluating a Regulation that aimed to improve conditions for rail freight in the EU. 

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INFORMING CONSUMERS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF CARS

UPDATING LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMERS RECEIVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED  

The cars that we drive are changing. There is an increasing range of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and even hydrogen-powered cars on the market. At the same time, consumers are using the internet much more to research potential car purchases and even to buy cars. EU legislation from 1999 currently sets the framework for the provision of information to consumers on the environmental performance of new cars. This was adopted at a time when there were no mass market electric vehicles and when the use of the internet was still in its infancy. TEPR supported the European Commission in reviewing potential policy measures to keep consumers better informed, taking account of developments in the last 20 years.

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IMPROVING TRANSPORT IN LOW DENSITY AND DEPOPULATING AREAS

ENSURING THAT THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK SUPPORTS TRANSPORT IN LOW DENISTY AND DEPOPULATING AREAS  

From an economic perspective, it is easier to justify the development of transport infrastructure and services in heavily populated areas, than it is in low density and depopulating areas. The latter also tend to be more remote from the major centres of economic activity and employment, while they are often characterised by challenges resulting from their geography, e.g. as islands or mountainous areas. Hence, transport in these areas needs support from the public sector, including relevant EU funds, to ensure that it supports local social and economic development. TEPR worked with VVA on a report that explored this issue and made recommendations on actions that might be undertaken at the EU level.

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FINANCING THE ZERO CARBON TRANSITION

ESTIMATING THE LEVEL OF CITIES’ FINANCE FOR CLIMATE ACTIONS IN TRANSPORT  

The transition to a net zero carbon economy will bring multiple benefits, not least in relation to minimising the impacts of climate change, although a substantial amount of investment is needed. Currently, there is still a lot of investment in activities that damage the environment, and which are contrary to the zero carbon transition, whereas the finance spent on climate mitigation and adaptation actions is currently not sufficient. Ian Skinner of TEPR, and TEPR Associate Marianne Pearson, estimated the climate finance spent on transport globally for a report published by the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance and the World Bank. The report identified the extent of the challenge and made recommendations on how to close the gap.

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