Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
These results show that increasing fuel prices reduce the likelihood of commuting
by car and a change on mobility behavior (modal shift, amount of distance traveled).
The debate over whether fuel economy standards or fuel taxation is the more appro-
priate policy instrument to raise fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions is not
appropriated. Both are needed. Results from scenarios A3 and B3 reconfirm the
extensively expressed affirmation that individual policy measures are not sufficient
to deal with the diverse and multifaceted sustainability concerns associated with
transport. In order to achieve improvements in energy intensity, CO2 emissions,
congestion and air pollutant emissions, a package of measures is necessary.
Conclusion
As the transport sector is responsible for many long term impacts, such as CO2
emissions or fossil fuel consumption, there is obviously a strong call for bringing
together mobility and sustainability. To increase the “environmental friendliness”
of energy taxation, a new fuel taxation policy have been set up for achieving a
specific CO2 emission target. Clearly, the outlined target represents an effort that
would require great changes in the coming years, both regarding the kind of trans-
port and the way that transport is perceived and utilized by individuals and organi-
zations (their mobility and behavior).This is reflected in the level of fuel tax needed
(Scenarios 2). Evidence of the effectiveness of fuel taxation as a environmental
transport policy in this context are clear, as it was able to cut CO2 emissions
growth. But the levels propounded are economically, socially and politically unfea-
sible. The effectiveness of the measure improves when other, such as technological
improvement measures were implemented.
However, there are a truly uncertainty associated with trust on technological
improvement. There is a risk that the technology will not deliver the required CO2
reductions. The probability that this may be too late, even if it is really achieved, is
a significant element that makes it more urgent to considerer other measures from
now. An alternative to a complete dependence on technological evolution is to start
implementing schemes which are designed for changing our mobility behavior.
Fuel taxation can be part of an integrated package of policy measures. Transparency
and logic for destinations of revenues obtained by this policy needs to be under-
standable and shared by the public.
References
1. COM (2007) Green Paper - Towards a new culture for urban mobility. European Commission.
Directorate General for Energy and Transport. 551
2. Eurostat. The Statistical Office of the European Communities
3. European Parliament and Council (2003) On the Promotion of the Use of Biofuels or other
Renewable Fuels for Transport (Directive 2003/30/EC)
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