DVF: Transport Sector Aims to Implement Ambitious EU Climate Goals

The plenary of the European Parliament voted yesterday on part of the climate protection package “Fit for 55”. In this context, the managing director of the German Transport Forum (DVF), Dr. Heike van Hoorn, stated: “The transport sector wants ambitious climate protection. The necessary transition in propulsion and fuels must be implemented in an extremely short time. What we have seen so far from the European Parliament and the Council does not meet this demand. We need more decisiveness regarding the necessary framework conditions and fair regulation.”

(Berlin) The main report on the further development of the European emissions trading system did not receive a majority in the plenary of the Parliament. Thus, the necessary resolutions for including road transport and maritime transport in emissions trading are currently missing. Van Hoorn: “We regret this and ask Parliament to catch up on the resolutions. Europe needs an effective CO2 pricing.”

Aviation Industry

In contrast, the European Parliament wants to end the free allocation of certificates in aviation by 2025, including long-haul flights from EU airports and non-CO2 emissions in emissions trading. “Here, the Parliament does not sufficiently consider the economic impacts on a mode of transport that is in global competition,” said van Hoorn. “No one benefits if we weaken the innovative European aviation industry.”

Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles

The situation remains very challenging regarding the transition in road transport. The European Parliament has advocated for complete emissions freedom for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 2035 regarding CO2 fleet limits. Emissions will be measured at the exhaust. Thus, there will be no points of reference for the use of green hydrogen and electricity-based synthetic fuels in the regulation.

Infrastructure

In this context, van Hoorn addressed the regulation on the establishment of the supply infrastructure for alternative fuels (AFIR): “The pace of infrastructure development is currently not keeping up with the tightening of fleet limits. This particularly affects the charging network for electric mobility, which is needed in all cities and across Europe. Unfortunately, it seems that the member states are diluting the expansion targets in the draft regulation. We need more ambition than is included in the Commission’s proposal – not less.”

The European Parliament has not yet voted on the AFIR. For all laws, the Council and Parliament must reach a substantive agreement for the proposals to be adopted.

The DVF position paper on “Fit for 55” addresses further recommendations for action, including the following points:

• swift expansion of hydrogen and e-fuel production for applications in the transport sector, complementary to battery-electric mobility
• quotas for sustainable fuels and energy taxation in line with the requirements of international competition
• earmarking of EU funds for climate protection, for example, to financially support clean fuels, infrastructure, and technological innovations
• expansion of rail transport, waterways, public transport, cycling and pedestrian traffic, as well as new mobility forms; development of interfaces between modes of transport
• support for digitalization and automation in the transport sector
• acceleration of planning and construction for efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure – in the same way as for renewable energy infrastructure

Photo: © DVF