Transport & Environment Archives

The European Commission's proposal to continue exempting flights to and from Europe from its flagship emissions trading scheme (ETS) was an overreaction, writes Andrew Murphy.

As millions of European hit the roads this month for a well-earned summer break, most won’t know what they’re driving on, writes Laura Buffet.

Concerns that sharing schemes do not deliver a net reduction in car use are not supported by evidence, writes Greg Archer. Now, digitisation and the sharing economy provide an opportunity to reduce the number of vehicles in our cities even further, he contends.

Hauliers claim that trucks are overpaying in taxes and charges compared to their impact on the environment and society. But the reality is that road transport is now Europe’s biggest climate problem, writes Samuel Kenny.

The battle over the EU's response to the Dieselgate scandal is drawing to a close. It pits the rebels advocating for more effective controls (the European Commission and Parliament) against the regressive forces of the Empire (some national governments and the car industry), writes Julia Poliscanova.

It’s no mystery why Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary dismisses evidence of climate change as ‘rubbish’, writes Andrew Murphy.

Biofuels are being touted as a solution to the problem of aviation emissions. But previous experience shows us we must take care to ensure they are not actually worse for the environment than the kerosene they replace, writes Carlos Calvo Ambel.

The move towards autonomous vehicles, driven by the progressive electrification of transport, and backed up by road pricing schemes, all carry the potential of radically cleaning up Europe's transport system, writes Greg Archer.

Light commercial vehicles are increasingly being used as a means to dodge social legislation and taxes, writes Samuel Kenny.

As the dust settles over the UK’s referendum, many are trying to second guess what it all means. Here Cecile Toubeau sizes up the possible repercussions for global trade policy.

London Mayor Boris Johnson wants the UK to take back control of truck design to improve road safety, but the UK will gain nothing by leaving the EU, writes Jos Dings.

Multinational companies are already exploiting investor protection clauses in free trade agreements to 'chill' social and environmental regulations that threaten their bottom lines, writes Matt Langdon. The EU must heed the warning bells.

In the midst of the ongoing Dieselgate scandal, Nina Renshaw and Jos Dings write that regulators need to be given back real authority and responsibility, and that the Commission has shown significant shortcomings.

Heavy duty vehicles account for a significant portion of CO2 emissions, and their impact is only supposed to increase. New measures must be adopted quickly in order to achieve climate goals, writes Carlos Calvo Ambel.

Car makers will not invest in low carbon technology while polluting is cheap. Strict emissions standards are the only way to decarbonise road transport and stimulate a modal shift, argues William Todts.

Obsolete laboratory tests for auto emissions is putting the health of Europeans at risk, writes Julia Poliscanova.

Martin Schulz's new ISDS proposal will likely be approved by the European Parliament. But behind the new language, not much has changed, writes Cecile Toubeau.

American trucks have always lagged behind in terms of efficiency, but new US regulations will soon cause the tables to turn, argues William Todts. 

Implementing consistent emissions standards for all diesel engines would push manufacturers to use the best available technology and improve the EU's air quality, argues François Cuenot.

Aviation emissions standards are vital to protect the European environment, and must be enforced fairly across the EU, writes Andrew Murphy. 

Countries must reform the International Civil Aviation Organisation's position on fuel subsidies to bring them into line with well-established global objectives, writes Andrew Murphy.

We have no idea if the biomass burned actually reduces CO2 emissions, which raises questions about the energy source's zero rating in the EU's Emissions Trading System, writes Carlos Calvo Ambel.

Climate and energy crises are looming and only ambitious action can make the EU more environmentally friendly, energy secure and innovative at the same time, writes Nuša Urban?i?. 

There are ?a number of possible solutions to reduce emissions in the aviation and shipping sector. But the relevant UN bodies should identify an emission reduction pathway, and ensure that any measures adopted are done so in a fair and equitable way, writes Bill Hemmings.