Position Paper: Decarbonisation in public transport

Public transport contributes to better air and quality of life in cities and to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the EU, as it uses fewer resources and emits less CO2 per passenger than individual motorised transport. Despite this great record of accomplishment, public transport companies are determined to contribute even further to the decarbonisation of transport by replacing the oldest part of their fleet by modern, more efficient vehicles and by using alternative fuels and electric propulsion systems.

Policy initiatives at European level need to be coherent and jointly aim at supporting the decarbonisation of (public) transport. This is not only required under the “better regulation” approach, but is also the only way to ensure that efforts taken in one policy area are not undermined by another. Policy coherence is also necessary because the public transport authorities’ and operators’ investments into infrastructure, vehicles and equipment needs stable conditions regarding fuel taxation and subsidies. Otherwise investments may be made without ever getting the envisaged returns.

Read our Position Paper