European Mobility Atlas 2021 – European freight transport and green logistics

Rewatch the event

A number of challenges impedes scaling up green logistics and sustainable forms of freight transport: road transport continues to have the largest share of EU freight transport performance among the three inland transport modes. Global supply chains for the transport of goods rely heavily on the shipping sector, which has cost efficiency and scale advantages, but also entails substantial negative climate impact due to its tremendous greenhouse gas emissions. Zero carbon shipping is still in its infancy. On the other hand, an increase of rail freight transport would clearly help to decarbonise the transport sector and combat climate change, but high costs and infrastructure challenges remain barriers for more decisive steps.

At the same time, the rising dominance of online services for goods – exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic – has hugely affected the way urban logistics are organised. This is part of larger equity challenges, such as fair conditions for delivery companies’ staff. Sustainable modes of freight transport in cities, for instance with the use of cargo bikes, exist, but are underrepresented.

During this event, we will discuss challenges for European freight transport, options for zero carbon shipping and specific development of urban logistics.

Programme

Welcome and moderation by Lisa Tostado, Head of Programme for International Climate, Trade & Agricultural Policy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels

Debate with:

• Ciarán Cuffe, Member of the European Parliament, (Greens/EFA), Group coordinator in the Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Harriet Hird, Head of Marketing, Zedify UK
• Jan-Christoph Napierski, Head Of Regulatory Affairs, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

Q&A with the audience.

Read our European Mobility Atlas 2021: Facts and Figures About Transport and Mobility in Europe, to learn more about best practices and policy recommendations to achieve a sustainable, inclusive and just mobility in the European Union, with a focus on railways, cycling, digitalisation, tackling the climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19.

• From the roads to the rails: European freight transport and green logistics, by Werner Balsen
• Not a moving target: the responsibility to respect human rights in the transport and logistics sector, by Francesca Manta and Alice Pease
• Shipping: Setting sail - challenges for sea transport, by Nikolaos Sifakis and Prof. Theocharis Tsoutsos

For any questions, please contact Melanie Bernhofer.

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