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The latest report from the European Environment Agency highlights mixed progress in Europe’s transport sector towards sustainability. While greenhouse gas emissions remain stagnant and road transport continues to dominate, there are signs of potential improvements by 2030. However, significant investments and policy shifts are crucial to achieving the EU’s ambitious goal of a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050.

Transport in Europe: Some Signs of Progress, But a Difficult Journey Ahead to Sustainability

The European Union (EU) is making strides towards climate neutrality, yet a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector remain stubbornly stagnant. The EEA’s latest report, "Sustainability of Europe’s Mobility Systems," published today, highlights the challenges and opportunities in the transition to sustainable transport amid increasing demand for mobility.

As of 2024, the transport sector is still a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and noise. Despite projections indicating potential improvements for 2030 and beyond, substantial investments and a shift to sustainable transport modes for both people and freight are crucial.

Road Transport Dominates

Private cars continue to dominate passenger transport in Europe, accounting for nearly 73% of passenger-kilometres in the EU as of 2022. From 1995 to 2022, the distance driven by cars surged by 25%. Meanwhile, the uptake of sustainable public transport options—such as buses, trams, and metros—has stagnated.

The freight transport landscape mirrors this trend, with road transport comprising just over half of total freight in the EU in 2022. Since 1995, the volume of freight transported on Europe’s roads has increased by nearly two-thirds, raising concerns about future sustainability.

A Heavy Climate Cost

In 2022, transport emissions in the EU were approximately 26% higher than in 1990. The rise in transport demand outstrips gains made through improved engine efficiency and electric vehicle adoption. While the transition to electric vehicles and cleaner fuels shows promise, their implementation has been too slow to reverse the overall trend.

Aviation demand has also surged, growing by over 140% from 1995 to 2019, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years. Transport accounted for around 29% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, a figure that is expected to rise as other sectors decarbonize more rapidly.

Current EU policies project a 14% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 and a 37% reduction by 2050, compared to 2022 levels. However, achieving the EU’s ambitious goal of a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050 will require stronger, concerted efforts.

Significant Progress on Air Pollution

The EU transport sector has made notable advances in reducing emissions of most air pollutants, thanks to stringent emission standards and technological advancements. This progress is primarily attributed to improvements in road transport and maritime emissions.

To expedite the green transition in Europe’s mobility systems, sustained public and private investment in innovation and technology is essential. Revenue from the revised Emission Trading System (ETS) and the inclusion of road transport in the new ETS 2 represent significant opportunities to catalyze progress. However, these investments must be coupled with ambitious policy implementations to promote a shift to more sustainable transport options.