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Decarbonizing Transport in the European Union: Emission Performance Standards and the Perspectives for a European Green Deal

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  • Tobias Haas

    (Department of Political and Social Sciences, Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Ihnestr. 22, D-14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Hendrik Sander

    (Department of Political and Social Sciences, Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Ihnestr. 22, D-14195 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The transport sector is a major driver of climate change both globally and in the European Union (EU). While the EU as a whole is showing declining carbon emissions, transport-related emissions are higher than in 1990. Car traffic is responsible for around 12 percent of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underlined the efforts to strengthen the decarbonization of the EU at the end of 2019 by publishing the European Green Deal (EGD) communication. In this paper, we analyze the controversy surrounding the emission performance standards for cars adopted in spring 2019. Car manufacturers must reduce the average carbon emissions of their fleets by 37.5% between 2021 and 2030. In this respect, the new emission performance standards are more ambitious than the previous ones. However, our argument is that without a major shift in the balance of power, extensive decarbonization and a departure from car-centered transport development will not be possible. Therefore, it is crucial for mobility research to critically engage with lobbying power in the EU and with concepts such as environmental leadership, which often underexpose the structural power of incumbent actors and existing path dependencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias Haas & Hendrik Sander, 2020. "Decarbonizing Transport in the European Union: Emission Performance Standards and the Perspectives for a European Green Deal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8381-:d:426682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Lígia da Silva Lima & Louise Cocquyt & Lucia Mancini & Erasmo Cadena & Jo Dewulf, 2023. "The role of raw materials to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: Tracing the risks and positive contributions of cobalt along the lithium‐ion battery supply chain," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 777-794, June.
    3. Paula Quentin & Jost Buscher & Thomas Eltner, 2023. "Transport Planning beyond Infrastructural Change: An Empirical Analysis of Transport Planning Practices in the Rhine-Main Region in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Jatta Pitkänen & Hanna Lehtimäki & Ari Jokinen, 2023. "Sustainability Project Champions as Environmental Leaders in a City Organization: Driving the Urban Circular Economy," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 12(1), pages 52-64, April.
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    6. Dolge, Kristiāna & Barisa, Aiga & Kirsanovs, Vladimirs & Blumberga, Dagnija, 2023. "The status quo of the EU transport sector: Cross-country indicator-based comparison and policy evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    7. Jaržemskis Andrius & Jaržemskienė Ilona, 2022. "European Green Deal Implications on Country Level Energy Consumption," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 22(2), pages 97-122, December.
    8. Armanda Cetrulo & Giovanni Dosi & Angelo Moro & Linnea Nelli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Automation, digitalization and decarbonization in the European automotive industry: a roadmap towards a just transition," LEM Papers Series 2023/36, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    9. Wiktor Hebda, 2021. "The North-South Gas Corridor in the Context of Poland’s Gas Transmission System—A Perfect Opportunity to Diversify Gas Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Jan Kunkler & Maximilian Braun & Florian Kellner, 2021. "Speed Limit Induced CO 2 Reduction on Motorways: Enhancing Discussion Transparency through Data Enrichment of Road Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, January.
    11. Joanna Kisielińska & Monika Roman & Piotr Pietrzak & Michał Roman & Katarzyna Łukasiewicz & Elżbieta Kacperska, 2021. "Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources in Road Transport in EU Countries—TOPSIS Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Marek Michalczuk & Marcin Nikoniuk & Paweł Radziszewski, 2021. "Multi-Inverter Linear Motor Based Vehicle Propulsion System for a Small Cargo Transportation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Danielis, Romeo & Scorrano, Mariangela & Giansoldati, Marco, 2022. "Decarbonising transport in Europe: Trends, goals, policies and passenger car scenarios," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    14. Armin Razmjoo & Mostafa Rezaei & Seyedali Mirjalili & Meysam Majidi Nezhad & Giuseppe Piras, 2021. "Development of Sustainable Energy Use with Attention to Fruitful Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Massimo Beccarello & Giacomo Di Foggia, 2023. "Review and Perspectives of Key Decarbonization Drivers to 2030," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, January.
    16. Kyriakos Skarlatos & Andreas Fousteris & Dimitrios Georgakellos & Polychronis Economou & Sotirios Bersimis, 2023. "Assessing Ships’ Environmental Performance Using Machine Learning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.

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