Page 12 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2015 publication
P. 12
Summer 2015 European Energy Innovation
TRANSPORT
Joining all energies to deliver
innovation for transport
By Mr Aguiar Machado, Director General, European Commision (pictured)
While COP 21, the efficiency improvements and not address this oil dependence,
United Nations policy efforts, EU transport still people’s ability to travel – and
Climate Change depends on oil and oil products our economic security – could
Conference, is for 96% of its energy needs. This be severely impacted with dire
approaching, the transport sector does not only impact our climate consequences on inflation, trade
is increasingly reminded of one and local air pollution but also balance and the overall EU
of the biggest challenges it faces: affects our economy. In 2010, competitiveness.
its dependence on oil. Despite the oil import bill was around
technical progress, energy €210 billion for the EU. If we do The 2011 Transport White Paper
duly recognised the importance
of this challenge and proposed
as a response a roadmap to
improve transport efficiency and
decarbonise the sector by 2050.
This goal has been translated in
specific objectives to make the
existing means of transport more
efficient, to improve the transport
system as a whole (for instance
through measures on traffic
management) and, last but not
least, to ensure low-energy means
of transports become more
effective.
The Transport White Paper listed a
number of policy instruments and
levers that were at the disposal of
the European Union to achieve
these goals. These cover a broad
range of tools from regulation
to pricing, infrastructure funding
and standardisation. In addition,
the White Paper recognised that
‘innovation is essential for this
strategy’, not only to deliver new
technologies but also to promote
more sustainable behaviour.
Following the experiences
which were initiated under the
7th Framework Programme for
Research and Technological
Development (FP7), the European
Commission has decided to
further enhance the cooperation
of all actors to address the full
cycle of research, innovation and
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
TRANSPORT
Joining all energies to deliver
innovation for transport
By Mr Aguiar Machado, Director General, European Commision (pictured)
While COP 21, the efficiency improvements and not address this oil dependence,
United Nations policy efforts, EU transport still people’s ability to travel – and
Climate Change depends on oil and oil products our economic security – could
Conference, is for 96% of its energy needs. This be severely impacted with dire
approaching, the transport sector does not only impact our climate consequences on inflation, trade
is increasingly reminded of one and local air pollution but also balance and the overall EU
of the biggest challenges it faces: affects our economy. In 2010, competitiveness.
its dependence on oil. Despite the oil import bill was around
technical progress, energy €210 billion for the EU. If we do The 2011 Transport White Paper
duly recognised the importance
of this challenge and proposed
as a response a roadmap to
improve transport efficiency and
decarbonise the sector by 2050.
This goal has been translated in
specific objectives to make the
existing means of transport more
efficient, to improve the transport
system as a whole (for instance
through measures on traffic
management) and, last but not
least, to ensure low-energy means
of transports become more
effective.
The Transport White Paper listed a
number of policy instruments and
levers that were at the disposal of
the European Union to achieve
these goals. These cover a broad
range of tools from regulation
to pricing, infrastructure funding
and standardisation. In addition,
the White Paper recognised that
‘innovation is essential for this
strategy’, not only to deliver new
technologies but also to promote
more sustainable behaviour.
Following the experiences
which were initiated under the
7th Framework Programme for
Research and Technological
Development (FP7), the European
Commission has decided to
further enhance the cooperation
of all actors to address the full
cycle of research, innovation and
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
