Towards clean and smart mobility

Transport plays a critical role in the way we live. Our food, clothes and household waste all need to be transported, contributing to our economy and quality of life. But the increasing use of planes, cars and other fossil-fuel dependent modes of transport is causing more pollution, putting at risk our environment and health. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Signals 2016 explores how Europe’s carbon-dependent transport sector can be turned into a clean and smart mobility system.

EEA Signals 2016 – Towards green and smart mobility goes beyond the data and statistics on transport, giving an in-depth explanation of the key facts and trends, the environmental challenges facing transport, and the green choices we have to ensure cleaner modes of moving around.

Transport underpins our modern society and economy. At the same time, it is responsible for a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, and causes air pollution, noise pollution and habitat fragmentation.

The European Union has already taken measures to mitigate the effects of transport pollution, and it has launched work on ambitious plans to create a low-carbon economy by 2050. These plans include making sure transport plays its part in reducing emissions.

“The EU’s transport sector depends on oil for 94 % of its fuel. It is clear that decarbonising Europe’s transport sector will take time. It requires a combination of measures, including better urban planning, technological improvements, and a wider use of alternative fuels. But it can be done and we know how we can make it happen. Cleaner and smarter transport can actually meet Europe’s need for mobility and at the same time deliver many public health benefits, including cleaner air, fewer accidents, less congestion and less noise pollution,” says EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

Signals 2016 includes articles focusing on the state of Europe’s transport sector, its impact on public health, the issue of food miles, aviation and shipping, plus an interview on how cities can plan for smart mobility and climate change.

The EEA publishes Signals annually in an easy-to-read format exploring key issues of interest to the environmental debate and the wider public.

Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu/
Image © Gülçin Karadeniz 2016