Isra-Mart srl : Transport white paper encourages carbon emissions

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Most European car journeys are less than 10 kilometres - so citizens and companies should be embracing green initiatives like cycling and video conferencing, insists Richard Dyer

European transport policy has reached a crossroads. The growing threats of rising fuel prices and global climate change mean that a change to a greener direction is now more important than ever.

Last month, the European Commission published a Transport White Paper setting out its roadmap for a 60 per cent reduction in transport emissions by 2050. "We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility," said European commission Vice President, Siim Kallas. "We can and we must do both. Curbing mobility is not an option; neither is business as usual. It can be win–win."

The fact that the EC has recognised the need for a new approach is welcome and the paper contained some positive proposals – such as plans to shift long-distance freight and passengers to greener transport options like boats and trains. But, unfortunately, the overall plan fails to go far enough or fast enough.

The 60 per cent carbon reduction target may sound ambitious. But it's extremely weak compared to the EU's overall plan to cut emissions by 80-95 per cent by the same year of 2050. And it will burden other sectors – including housing and industry, with having to make even bigger emission cuts. There is also an over-reliance on technological solutions.

The EC plan will mean transport emissions will only drop by 1 per cent annually until 2030, after which they are expected to suddenly decrease by a whopping 5 per cent every year. This is because the European Union has put most of its eggs in the technology basket - gambling on a big switch to electric vehicles in the late 2020s and 2030s, alongside a hugely decarbonised electricity supply to power them.

These would be highly positive developments, if they happen. But relying on them for the plan to succeed is a risky – if not a reckless – strategy. And despite the white paper appearing to balance plans to make it easier for people to get around while curbing climate-changing emissions, a quick look at the detail shows the former actually compromises the latter. Encouraging people to travel further and more frequently will make it much harder to keep emissions under control and reduce our dependency on unstable oil supplies.

Instead, Friends of the Earth believe there should be much greater emphasis on policies that mean people do not have to travel so much to get to work, shops and services. For example, more video-conferencing would replace many meetings and better land-use planning would mean vital services are closer to where people live.

And we would like to see much more being done to encourage more walking, cycling, using public transport and car-sharing. Most European car trips are less than 10 kilometres - many of these short journeys could easily be made by greener alternatives. The commission may have a roadmap to a greener future, but while it continues pootling along in the slow lane - it will take far too long to get there.