Clean Transport

As our next contributor, we are honoured to introduce Prof. Maria Attard to the platform! In her article on Clean Transport, Prof. Attard discusses the dire need to clean up our transport systems, a need which stems from a sector which has been the least successful in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Prof. Attard notes that Malta has missed its 2020 targets and is now set to potentially miss its 2030 targets, primarily because of the relentless growth in transport emissions. Under the European Green Deal, clean transport is a call for an increase in efforts to reduce the transport system’s reliance on polluting non-renewable fuels. Prof. Attard adds that if we are to achieve clean transport, then we need to raise our ambition in tapping into renewable energy sources, such that we are able to sustain the transitioning of the transport system to clean fuels. Find out more by taking a look at Prof. Attard’s article now!

There is resounding agreement on the need to clean up our transport systems. A need which stems from a sector which has been the least successful in achieving a reduction in harmful emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The transport sector contributed 27% of the total emissions across the European Union in 2018. Road transport alone was responsible for 72% of those greenhouse gas emissions (European Union, 2020). In Malta, the situation is even more dire with transport being the primary contributor to our total greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, Malta has missed its 2020 targets and is now set to potentially miss its 2030 targets, primarily because of the relentless growth in transport emissions (EEA, 2020).

The Green Deal focuses a lot on transport as a main contributor to climate change, and clean transport is a call for an increase in efforts to reduce the reliance of the transport system on polluting non-renewable fuels, which in most cities and urban areas is also affecting the quality of life and well-being of those individuals living in such areas. Clean or green transport is a broad term that encompasses a variety of actions and initiatives taken by various transport sectors, whether it is air, road, or maritime, in order to reduce their carbon footprint. From fuel efficiency in engine design, to the decarbonisation of port and airport operations, to the electrification of the vehicle fleet in urban areas, and the removal of emissions through better urban and land use planning which promote the use of walking and cycling over the use of the car, all these and more are being developed and implemented across most developed countries, and even some developing countries.

Clean transport comprises the changeover to renewable energy sources, and the building of new effective infrastructure that delivers new ways in which mobility can indeed be sustainable. The effort has to be integrated and all encompassing, as it is clear now that a simple change from conventional cars to electric vehicles will not solve the global problem of emissions (or of congestion for that matter!). We need to think of ways in which the energy generated for these vehicles is clean as well. Maybe it is also time to put to good use some lessons learnt from the current pandemic. Reducing the need to travel is probably the most effective way of cleaning transport. Furthermore, we must plan for shared and public transport options that are far more efficient in getting people to places. The electrification of shared and public transport systems, the development of surface mass transport systems that fit within the limitations of our islands and towns, the conversion of town centres into walkable places so as to reduce the need to travel by car, are among the measures a holistic plan should include.

If we are to achieve clean transport, then we need to raise our ambition in tapping into renewable energy sources, such that we are able to sustain the transitioning of the transport system to clean fuels. And much is needed in terms of research and study into how we are to achieve this, and the policy and implementation pathways which we must adopt to transition, slowly but surely.

The other opportunity of clean transport lies in the new “green” jobs that the transition will create. It is very evident that new skills and competences will be required to shift a whole industry sector to cleaner modes, cleaner technology, shared and collaborative technology systems that allow integration of information across modes and between individuals, and the design of new urban areas that prioritise people walking and cycling. Some of these new skills will create opportunities in the industry, as well as create new businesses, as we have already started seeing locally with mobility-as-a-service providers in the shared and micro-mobility sectors (carpooling, scooters and bicycles).

The current pandemic provides the opportunity to build back better. We cannot be complacent and ignore the warning signs about climate change. As I write this, the International Energy Agency has published its projections for carbon emissions for 2021, being the second highest rate in history. As countries pledge their priorities to climate change, they also seem to be pouring more money into fossil fuels to recover from the COVID-19 recession. We need to identify what to prioritize in the pandemic recovery and be clever in supporting measures and plans that provide opportunity without harming the environment any further.

The impetus provided by the Green Deal will set a challenging, but also engaging path towards innovation and improved quality of life. Let us hope that we are ready to move forward to a new normal where priorities in transport start focusing on ‘real’ clean transport solutions.

References

European Union (2020). EU transport in figures. Statistical Pocketbook 2020. Available at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/da0cd68e-1fdd-11eb-b57e-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-search. (Accessed 23 April 2021)

European Environment Agency (2020) Trends and projections in Europe 2020

Tracking progress towards Europe’s climate and energy targets. EEA Report, No 13/2020. Available at https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/trends-and-projections-in-europe-2020. (Accessed 23 April 2021)