More progress on decarbonized transport: how political decisions affect the move toward climate neutrality

The Paris Agreement aims to have the European Union achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It is estimated that transport is responsible for 1/4 of greenhouse gas emissions within the Union, and it is this sector that is currently doing the worst in implementing the commitment¹. What political decisions are about to change that?

Only zero-emission vehicles from 2035

In March 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted a rather radical solution to allow only the sales of zero-emission new passenger cars and vans in the Community from 2035. In addition, a 55% reduction in emissions for cars and 50% for vans is to be achieved between 2030 and 2035.

Heavy-duty vehicle tolls

In November 2021, the Eurovignette Directive was amended. The new regulations went into effect in March 2022, and require the drivers of heavy-duty vehicles to pay tolls for the use of certain parts of the road infrastructure in order to help reduce CO₂ emissions.

Euro 7

Cars contribute not only to CO₂ emissions, but to air pollution as well. For this reason, the European Union has been working on the Euro 7 standard which is expected to further reduce the level of additional pollutants, for example, from tires, brakes and batteries. The regulations, which have been in the works since September 2023, are expected to apply to passenger cars and vans as well as trucks.

It is worth noting that decarbonized transport solutions apply equally to passenger car and truck owners, forcing the logistics industry to take radical steps.

1. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/pl/policies/clean-and-sustainable-mobility/#goals