Europe already has among the highest fuel taxes in the world, and Europeans are already used to smaller cars, more transit and more walking than elsewhere in the developed world.
Yet in a white paper released Monday, the European Commission said that to meet climate goals by midcentury, gasoline- and diesel-run cars must disappear from cities.
The white paper outlined a complete transportation strategy that probably ranks as the world's most ambitious effort to cut oil use and greenhouse gas emissions.
"Action cannot be delayed. Infrastructure takes many years to plan, build and equip -- and trains, planes and ships last for decades -- the choices we make today will determine transport in 2050," the paper says.
The commission doesn't make European law; rather, its report will be received by the European Parliament, whose members are elected by the public and which can set laws for the 27 E.U. countries.
But as the executive agency of the European Union, the commission does have the power to deliver some parts of its vision.
The European Commission said Europe needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent beneath 1990 levels, or more, by 2050. To keep pace, the transportation sector would have to cut 60 percent of emissions.
To get there, the white paper envisions a "Single European Transport Area" that tears down barriers between different countries and different modes of transport.
From http://www.scientificamerican.com
Arturo Martín
CEO
Global Green Ingenieros S.L.
Edificio ARIETE.
CEO
Global Green Ingenieros S.L.
Edificio ARIETE.
Calle Innovacion, 6-8.
Parque Empresarial PISA
E41927 Mairena del Aljarafe.
Sevilla
Spain
(www.grupoglobalgreen.es)
E41927 Mairena del Aljarafe.
Sevilla
Spain
(www.grupoglobalgreen.es)
