European reactions to EU’s strategy for low-emission mobility

European transport policy must be brought in line with Paris climate targets, say Greens

The European Commission must bring its transport emission targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, according to a report backed by the European Parliament today. The report, from Greens/EFA rapporteur Bas Eickhout, sets out several measures needed if this ambition is to be achieved.

Bas Eickhout comments:

“We have set out an achievable roadmap for bringing the EU's transport sector in line with the Paris climate agreement. Transport is one of Europe’s biggest climate challenges. To make sure we deliver on the Paris deal, greenhouse gas emissions from transport need to be near zero by 2050. The European Commission should respond with new transport targets that are in line with the Paris agreement. These have to be matched with the policies that are needed to make sure they are implemented.

“This is achievable, but we need a clear shift in how we view transport. Fair pricing across different modes is an absolute must, reflecting the true environmental cost of different modes of travel. At the moment, sustainable options such as rail face the heaviest taxes and charges, while aviation pays next to nothing. This needs to be urgently addressed.

"The Parliament is demanding a minimum target for the share of zero emission cars for manufacturers, as well as more ambitious CO2 standards for cars and vans in order to phase out combustion engine cars entirely."

Low-emission transport is crucial for a sustainable economic and social model, say S&Ds

The transport sector is responsible for almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is why the European Union must make an irreversible shift to a low-emission mobility if we want to seriously reverse climate change and comply with the UN Paris Climate Agreement.

Today, we defeated the conservatives in the European Parliament in a vote which calls for an ambitious strategy to achieve a low-emission mobility based on three pillars: improving efficiency of the transport system, scaling up the use of alternative energy and moving towards zero-emission vehicles.
S&D spokesperson on transport, Ismail Ertug MEP, said:

“Changing our transport system is crucial to move towards a sustainable economic and social model. It is feasible, but it requires a long-term strategy, with specific incentives and new legislation.

“One of the overall goals is to encourage a behavioural change in the use of transport, which must be accompanied by less pollutant options. Therefore, alternative fuel infrastructure must be deployed: hydrogen, natural gas, and also improving accessibility to charging if we want electric cars to be an option for drivers.

"We see how cities are struggling with pollution and traffic, and it is clear that more needs to be done to promote clean public transport. We must encourage innovation to support them and also contribute to a clean air strategy in their mobility plans.”

S&D spokesperson on this file, Karoline Graswander-Hainz MEP, said:

“We believe that two principles should apply in any upcoming legislation: the polluter pays and the user pays. It is only fair that the price for any choice of mobility reflects the consequential cost it entails for society and our environment. In short, this report calls once more for a level playing field for different transport modes. As socialists we emphasise that a well-functioning and affordable public transport system must become a cornerstone of sustainable transport accessible to everyone.

“Technology and innovation provide for alternatives of which the EU and its citizens can benefit: digitalization in sustainable mobility and intelligent transport systems are only two examples.

“Lastly, we want a more ambitious proposal for the combined transport directive to promote efficient freight transport and a shift towards rail and inland waterways: the report re-instates the importance of modal shift goals referring to ambitions already formulated in the Commission's transport white paper of 2011 and Parliament's respective resolution of 2015.”

The EU is trying to drive people out of their cars, says UKIP

UKIP transport spokesman Jill Seymour has accused the European Union of trying to drive British people out of their cars with their quest to clamp down on vehicle emissions.

The West Midlands MEP was speaking at the European parliament in Strasbourg during a debate on a new report into the EU’s strategy for low-emission mobility.

“This report is all well and good if it continues to allow citizens the freedom to choose how they travel,” she said.

“It was after the 1997 Kyoto agreement that our then Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that diesel cars should attract less vehicle tax than their petrol equivalent because of their better CO2 performance.

“Then, in 2001, Mr Brown reduced vehicle tax on cars with low CO2 - this was a major change to encourage the public to buy diesel cars. Yet now we are increasingly seeing dramatic change to what forms of transport we are to use."

Mrs Seymour said the report was seeking to ‘comprehensively reduce the attractiveness of private forms of transport’ with a policy that it’s the polluter that pays.

“In other words, the EU are driving us out of our cars.”

She added: “What I do find positive is a move towards zero emissions based on consumer choice. I stress, consumer choice.

“What I don’t find helpful, however, is the kneejerk solutions that punish the driver before any proper infrastructure is in place.”

Mrs Seymour said it was clear that electric vehicles are becoming much more efficient and user friendly, but many people lack the money to change their cars.

“Just as citizens need time to prepare, so does the manufacturing industry. They still have forecourts full of petrol and diesel cars. Encouraging the development of hybrids will help aid the transition.

“UK based Jaguar-Land Rover is one company, like others, who have recognised the need to change and they should be commended on their projects. They are reducing nitrogen oxide and particles which are harmful.

“It is wrong for the EU to force a change though financial penalties, dividing those who can afford and those who can´t.

“Whilst some parts of this report are moving in the right direction, it will be up to the UK government, and they alone, to set the standards, once we gain our independence in 2019.”