ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews a number of key policies where the European Union (EU) has been particularly active, such as on carbon dioxide standards for road vehicles and on international modes of transport, namely aviation and shipping. Road transport represents approximately three quarters of the emissions from transport, which is roughly one-fifth of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. Transport is proving to be one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Today transport accounts for 21.5% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, increasing to more than one-quarter when aviation and maritime emissions are taken into account. The real test of success is whether emissions and environmental impacts from transport go down in absolute rather than relative terms. Aviation and shipping’s combined climate impacts already make up around 10% of Europe’s contribution to climate change, and they will grow to more than one third by 2050 unless significant measures are put in place.
