Bob is currently employed in the transport sector. We will guide you through the challenges that Bob is facing today and in the near future. ↓

Transport infrastructure is crucial for economic activity. The economy relies on dependable infrastructure to connect supply chains and move goods and services efficiently across borders. Transport infrastructure also provides higher quality opportunities for employment, healthcare and education to households across metropolitan areas. Unfortunately, if we do not take action against climate change, it will put pressure on the global infrastructure and disrupt communities and supply chains.

DID YOU KNOW ?

  • “Road transport constitutes the highest proportion of overall transport emissions, in 2019 it emitted 72% of all domestic and international transport GHG”

  • “The sector contributes to around 5% of EU GDP and employs above 10 million people”

  • “25% of the EU’s Greenhouse gas emissions result from transportation methods, of which road transport is the biggest contributor”

CLIMATE CHANGE CONSEQUENCES ↓

  • The majority of  transportation is still carbon-fuelled, amplifying detrimental environmental impacts. In urban areas particularly,  the build up of congestion, noise and air pollution places further environmental stress in addition to long-run health effects.

  • The depletion of natural resources negatively affects the infrastructure sector and its progress due to material shortages.

  • Infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, is negatively impacted by more extreme weather conditions, which can lead to more instability and less reliability of the infrastructure network.

  • Transportation networks are crucial for providing basic necessities such as energy and food. However, extreme weather events put road and train infrastructure at risk and disrupt the daily operations of transport systems, leading to disrupted supply chains.

GREEN DEAL ↓

The EU Green Deal

The EU has developed a new growth strategy called the European Green Deal in response to the current environmental changes. This strategy aims to achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 and zero net emissions of GHG. The Green Deal comprises 8 policy areas and includes plans for all sectors and industries.

Transport > Acceleration the shift to sustainable an smart mobility

The sustainable mobility policy of the European Green Deal aims to prioritize users by providing them with more affordable, accessible, healthier, and cleaner mobility options. According to the official communication of the European Green Deal, there are five main points that need to be addressed:

  • Boost multimodal transport needs by shifting 75% of inland transportation to rail and inland waterways, and restarting The Single European Sky project for aviation.

  • Implement automated and connected multimodal transport by making the European transport system and infrastructure more automated to reduce traffic and pollution.

  • Reflect on the impact of transport on its price by ending fossil-fuel subsidies and extensively revising the Taxation Directive, with a focus on aviation and maritime fuels.

  • Increase the production and deployment of sustainable alternative transport fuels.

  • Transport should become less polluting. The Commission is designing a pathway to set a combination of measures to reduce emissions, congestion and improve public transport, especially in cities, to try to reach a zero-emission Europe.

GOOD EXAMPLES ↓

Maersk (Maersk) announces that it has ordered a further six large ocean-going vessels that can sail on green methanol. The six vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and have a nominal capacity of approx. 17,000 containers (Twenty Foot Equivalent - TEU). They will replace existing capacity in the Maersk fleet.

Green transition - Danmark
Green transport fuels

Today Bolt, a leading European mobility platform, launches its car-sharing service, Bolt Drive. The new service allows customers to rent a car for short periods of time using the Bolt app. Bolt will invest €20 million in launching Bolt Drive in Europe this year, starting with a pilot in its home market, Estonia.

Green transition - Estonia
Sustainable transport

EcoClipper is developing a fleet of sailing ships offering emission-free transport and travel worldwide. EcoClipper ships will sail on shipping lines with fixed schedules, thereby creating a new shipping logistics system to connect the world’s continents.

Green transition - Netherlands
Green freight

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. automotive sector, manufacturer of super sports cars. In 2022, for the second year in a row, it won the Green Star Award for excellence in strategies that support the green economy. The company is at the forefront regarding energy and water consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants in the production cycle. Lamborghini has many projects and campaigns in place to train, inform, raise awareness and promote environmentally sustainable behaviour, to the benefit of its workers and the local community. Of particular importance is the establishment of a company carpooling service, included in the 2019-22 company agreement signed with TU’s at company level, which aims to reduce the use of private cars, and so reduce CO2 production, which will be certified.

Green transition - Italy
Sustainable production

One of the main German car manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, and the representative trade union in the automotive sector, IG Metall, have made firm steps forward in the direction of a fair and just transition, in the framework of the shift from combustion engines to electric vehicles.

Green transition - Germany
Electrification of the automotive sector and products

FUNDING ↓

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. Cluster 5 on ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’ addresses the acceleration of green and digital transitions. This initiative relies on various collaborations centred on transportation, including co-programmed partnerships such as "Towards Zero-Emission Road Transport," "Batteries," "Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport," and "Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility." Additionally, there is a co-funded partnership called "Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future" and institutional partnerships such as "Clean Hydrogen" and "Europe's Rail." The EU Missions are a new aspect of the research and innovation programs, and one of the Missions is "Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities." This project involves local authorities, businesses, investors, and citizens to achieve the goal of establishing 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030.

JUST TRANSITION
Discover which actions you can undertake ↓

  • The concept of transport encompasses various branches, including aviation, maritime, railway, and road transport. Each sector has its own Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee. The transport industry was among the first to be significantly affected by the European structure, resulting in the early establishment of a sectoral social dialogue. In light of the green transition, it is important to ensure a stable foundation to minimize the impact on current employment while improving the quality of jobs.

  • Firstly, the transport sector is characterized by self-employment and undocumented workers, resulting in poor social conditions. As a result, workers may not always be protected from work-related risks. It is crucial for workers to have a safe and healthy work environment, with minimal exposure to heat and air pollution.

    In addition, the transport sector is highly mobile and subject to social legislation that must be enforced across all member states. To address some of these issues, the European Mobility Package requires drivers to return home every 4 weeks and receive a local salary, while employers cover the costs of the driver's weekly rest.

    Lastly, the discussion of limiting working hours should continue and further progress as it is not only a matter of fairness but also safety. This applies not only to drivers on the road but also to pilots and captains, who must be protected from fatigue while operating vehicles.

  • Studies reveal that investing in public transportation can lead to the creation of 4.6 million jobs by 2030.

    Additionally, while electric vehicles require less manual labour for maintenance, there will be new job opportunities in areas such as recharging infrastructure.

  • The shift to electric vehicles in transport requires retraining for workers responsible for the maintenance. The maintenance of electric vehicles will shift from more mechanical skills to more electrical skills.

    On the other hand, drivers will require fewer technical skills to operate electric cars but will need to be trained on charging procedures and eco-driving. It's important to note that safety training should remain a top priority within this sector.

  • The production of electric and autonomous vehicles relies on technology as AI and data science will help vehicles to become smarter and safer. The use of technology in this sector often arises out of the necessities of efficiency, ease, and safety. Therefore, the role of technology cannot be underestimated in the emergence of platforms like “Uber” that disrupted the transport sector.

  • Studies have shown that carbon taxes have a more significant impact on lower-income households. These households often lack the financial resources to purchase carbon-neutral vehicles. Therefore, greater investment in public transportation is necessary to provide them with access to transportation to work, school, and social events.

  • Making the modal shift to public transport systems and vehicles with alternative fuels and increase of electric motors

  • Introducing efficiency standards when it comes to energy: banning the import of older vehicles and promoting the use of alternative fuels

  • Introducing a carbon tax on fossil fuels to disincentivize the use of fossil fuels 

GREEN TRANSITION
Discover which actions you can undertake ↓

  • Addressed in the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package, specifically under the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative. The plan requires fuel suppliers to distribute a certain amount of SAFs and encourages production to increase rapidly to encourage airlines to adopt this cleaner fuel.

QUIZ ↓