Low-emission mobility is an essential component of the broader shift to the low-carbon, circular economy needed for Europe to stay competitive and be able to cater to the mobility needs of people and goods.
Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. Europe’s answer to these challenges is an irreversible shift to low-emission mobility in terms of carbon and air pollutants.
The ambition is clear: by midcentury, greenhouse gas emissions from transport will need to be at least 60% lower than in1990 and be firmly on the path towards zero. Emissions of air pollutants from transport that harm our health need to be drastically reduced without delay.
Transport has much greater potential than in the past to contribute towards reducing the EU’s emissions, as we have committed to do under the Paris Agreement on climate change and in line with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
The shift towards low-emission mobility has already started globally and its pace is accelerating. It is a challenge that brings opportunities for European businesses to develop and introduce new technologies, thus contributing to sustainable growth and provide new jobs.
The European Commission has developed the Strategy for low-emission mobility, while ensuring the mobility needs of an efficient internal market and of global connectivity. This strategy sets a wide range of actions.
These actions address key levers to tilt the transport sector in the right direction in respect of technology neutrality and contributing to jobs, growth and investment, which includes, but is not limited to the following:
- low-emission alternative energy for transport,
- higher efficiency of the transport system,
- low- and zero-emission vehicles.
Since road transport is responsible for over 70% of transport greenhouse gas emissions and much of the air pollution (road transport is the largest source of nitrogen oxide (39%) and an important source of particulate matter (13%)), action will focus on this area, while all sectors of transport can and must contribute.
Through its initiatives, the EU will create enabling conditions and provide strong incentives for low-emission mobility.
The actions announced and planned, are part of a holistic approach requiring the long-term engagement of all stakeholders, including the Member States and individual businesses which will have to do their part according to their responsibilities. Europe’s researchers and manufacturing and service industries should continue to innovate and make business choices with a mid-century goal in mind. They will need the right kind of incentives and investments at the right time in order to bring their innovations to the market in Europe and globally. Regions and cities too will be major actors in delivering low-emission mobility solutions, close to where the problems are felt most, and ultimately, behavioral choices made by mobility users will determine how successful we will be.
It is only through sustained action by all actors that Europe can successfully transform its transport system, which is critical to its prosperity and the well-being of its citizens.
It is time to act and our company – ABLabs from Latvia would like to make its contribution!
