“Even if all greenhouse-gas emissions were to stop today, we would still see major changes in the climate. We therefore have no choice but to deal with unavoidable climate impacts and their economic, environmental and social costs. Early action will save on damage costs later”, shows the recitals preceding “An EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change”, a document adopted by the European Commission in April 2013.
Until January 2013, 15 member states have adopted an adaptation policy (strategy and/or plan) to climate change. Although these strategies and action plans are undoubtedly a good starting point for adaptation action, they are often not operationalised or only partly so.
The 2011 Commission proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 recognises mainstreaming as the MFF’s favoured approach to facilitate the necessary contribution to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. The general purpose of the EU Adaptation Strategy is to contribute effectively to a more climate resilient Europe. Particular attention is given to cross-border issues and sectors that are closely integrated at EU level through common policies.
The infrastructure of all transport modes is subject to the pressures generated by climate change and, depending on the type of infrastructure, railway, road, maritime or air, they are also submitted to specific adap-tability strategies. Increasing temperatures and sea level, as well as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions (storms, intense heat and floods) already have a significant negative impact on the transport infrastructures across the European Union. However, climate change doesn’t affect only the transport infrastructure, but also transport distribution and transport flows. Consequently, it can influence the needs of specific infrastructures. Moreover, the vulnerability of the transport sector is also influenced by human behaviour and social change. Just as transport modes are differently affected by climate change, the type of mobility that we choose influences the vulnerability of the entire transport sector. We can also support transport by choosing less polluting transport modes every day, such as the tram, metro or light metro. It would be interesting and, at the same time, useful for the municipalities and urban operators to develop campaigns to support these measures and to encourage the citizens to choose public transport. At the end of the campaign, the level of polluting emissions could be made public and there would definitely be less pollution by using public transport.
The new technologies developed for railway vehicles and traffic management will be essential for reducing transport emissions.
Many European companies are world leaders in infrastructure, logistics, traffic management systems and transport equipment production, but keeping in mind that other regions in the world are launching important and ambitious programmes for the modernisation of transport and for infrastructure investments, it is essential that European transport would continue to develop and to invest so as to preserve its competitive position.
Share on:
