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Green Deal: Overview

Highlights the key points of the Green Deal

Sustainable Mobility overview

The success of the European Green Deal depends on thee ability to make the transport system as a whole sustainable. The transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions have increased over time and represent now as much as a quarter of the EU’s total. It also contribute to additional costs, such as air, noise and water pollution, but also accidents and road crashes, congestion, and biodiversity loss . A sustainable transport system must not only address these costs but also preserve supply chains and have a coordinated European approach to connectivity while, also, strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and resilience. Hence, the new Sustainable and Smart mobility strategy focuses on:

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 2021

Sustainable Mobility video

© European Union, 2021

Key principles for sustainable mobility towards 2030 and 2050

The EU has set goals for the gradual implementation of green alternatives in order to reduce the carbon footprint. [Also see: Zero pollution action plan and Sections Eliminating pollution, Climate action].

Key commitments by 2030

  1. At least 30 million zero-emission cars will be in operation on European roads
  2. 100 European cities will be climate neutral.
  3. High-speed rail traffic will double across Europe
  4. Scheduled collective travel for journeys under 500 km should be carbon neutral
  5. Automated mobility will be deployed at large scale
  6. Zero-emission marine vessels will be market-ready

Key commitments by 2035

               Zero-emission large aircraft will be market-ready

Key commitments by 2050

  1. Nearly all cars, vans, buses as well as new heavy-duty vehicles will be zero-emission.
  2. Rail freight traffic will double.
  3. A fully operational, multimodal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) for sustainable and smart transport with high speed connectivity.

To make the vision a reality

  1. Boosting the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, vessels and aeroplanes, renewable & low-carbon fuels and related infrastructure - for instance by installing 3 million public charging points by 2030.

  1. Creating zero-emission airports and ports – for instance through new initiatives to promote sustainable aviation and maritime fuels.

  1. Making interurban and urban mobility healthy and sustainable - for instance by doubling high-speed rail traffic and developing extra cycling infrastructure over the next 10 years.

  1. Greening freight transport – for instance by doubling rail freight traffic by 2050.

  1. Pricing carbon and providing better incentives for users – for instance by pursuing a comprehensive set of measures to deliver fair and efficient pricing across all transport.

  1. Making connected and automated multimodal mobility a reality – for instance by making it possible for passengers to buy tickets for multimodal journeys and freight to seamlessly switch between transport modes.

  1. Boosting innovation and the use of data and artificial intelligence (AI) for smarter mobility – for instance by fully supporting the deployment of drones and unmanned aircraft and further actions to build a European Common Mobility Data Space.
  2. Reinforce the Single Market - for instance through reinforcing efforts and investments to complete the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by 2030 and support the sector to build back better through increased investments, both public and private, in the modernisation of fleets in all model. (video about Single (Internal) Market: https://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/imi-net/index_en.htmVideo about Single Market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocC31IADLFk&feature=youtu.be )                                                                                                                                                                                               
  3. Make mobility fair and just for all – for instance by making the new mobility affordable and accessible in all regions and for all passengers including those with reduced mobility and making the sector more attractive for workers.
  4. Step up transport safety and security across all modes - including by bringing the death toll close to zero by 2050.