The European Commission published a white paper last week establishing a road-map to a single European transport area.

Here’s the report and here are some highlights:

• The oil import bill for the EU was €210b in 2010. (Even if you hate the environment there is a very selfish reason to bet for renewables)
• The EU transport still depends on oil and oil products for 96% of its energy needs.
• Sticking to business as usual (current policy) means oil dependency would just be a little below 90%, emissions 30% higher than in 1990 and congestion costs increasing by 50%.
• By 2030 the goal is to reduce GHG emissions to around 20% below 2008. That would still be 8% above 1990.
• Transport is responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. 12.8% of overall emissions are generated by aviation, 13.5% by maritime transport, 0.7% by rail, 1.8% by inland navigation and 71.3% by road transport (2008).
• By 2050 goal is 60% emission reduction target
• Transport industry employs 10% and accounts for 5% of GDP
• Curbing mobility is not an option

How are we going to achieve this?

• 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.
• Multimodal combination will be key (to encourage the shift to rail and short sea for long hauls).  Exactly what we are doing at InterfaceFLOR with our Holland-Italy transport by rail, our transport to Nordic countries by short sea and using the canal to Rotterdam through barges.
• Multimodal is a great option for longer distances (distances of less than 300kms will still be done on trucks). The EU is aiming at upgrading its rail network and more efficient seaports.