The European Commission has adopted a roadmap of 40 concrete initiatives for the next decade that aims to build a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment. At the same time, the proposals aim to dramatically reduce Europe's dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

By 2050, key goals will include:

• No more conventionally-fuelled cars in cities.
• 40% use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation; at least 40% cut in shipping emissions.
• A 50% shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport.
• All of which will contribute to a 60% cut in transport emissions by the middle of the century.

CIHT Comment on the Report

The European Commission report is an opportunity for the UK government to commit themselves to long term investment in transport infrastructure. A fully functioning transport infrastructure is essential in underpinning a successful economy and CIHT call for a long term vision to underpin this.

The report outlines optimistic targets that the UK would struggle to achieve. The current economic circumstances have left the UK government with limited resources to deliver the demand management initiatives that would be required to achieve these targets.

The urban environment does present the opportunity to move away from fossil fuelled vehicles and the UK government has shown its commitment by the initiative being driven by the GLA.

The impact of banning vehicles from urban areas by 2050 without the subsequent investment required in public transport would have a significant impact on those communities in some of the EU’s most deprived areas.

CIHT supports the overarching principal as we agree that a reduction of UK transport emissions is essential if we are to reduce the impact of climate change. As the report highlights the importance of High Speed Rail, it is essential that the industry does all it can to support the delivery of this new line.

Full details of the report are available here

For more information please contact:
Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications, CIHT on t: +44 (0) 20 7336 1567 m: 07912122573 e: Daniel.Isichei@ciht.org.uk