The new White Paper published by the European Commission “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system” aims to increase mobility and further integrate the EU’s transport networks – while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the bloc’s dependence on imported oil.

Hydrogen is reinforced as one of the solutions to achieve clean transport within urban areas within the text of the document stating, “The use of electric, hydrogen and hybrid technologies would not only reduce air emissions, but also noise, allowing a greater portion of freighttransport within the urban areas to take place at night time.” page 8 paragraph 33

The White paper also defines measures to encourage major infrastructure investments and change the way freight moves and people travel would boost economic competitiveness and create jobs.

The plan – with goals to be met by 2050 – focuses on travel within cities and between cities, and on long distance journeys. It includes calls for:

• cities to completely phase out petrol cars
• shifting to rail or water 50% of all passenger and freight road transport currently making intercity journeys of more than 300km
• airlines to increase their use of sustainable low-carbon fuels to 40%
• shipping to cut 40% off its carbon emissions.

Source: European Commission

To view the full text of the White Paper see: Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area