In the EU, progress has been made in the introduction of emissions standards and the increased uptake of electric vehicles, however emissions levels for road transportation still remain stubborn. This is partially due to the steady increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, with passenger car emissions in the EU increasing by 5.7% since 2000. Meanwhile heavy duty vehicles are responsible for 27% of climate emissions from road transport, with trucks and buses having a bigger climate impact than all the flights within the EU. 

Road transportation is also a leading cause of air and noise pollution, which are harmful to people’s health. Many lower income people and rural populations continue to experience transport poverty and cannot access certain economic and social services due to a lack of transport options. 

Stubbornly high emissions from road transport was the motivation behind the creation of the Emissions Trading System for road transport (ETS2), starting in 2027. By putting a price on CO2 emissions from road transportation, member states are encouraged to increase their ambition and strengthen policies to decarbonise the sector. The ETS2 and the newly created Social Climate Fund will provide revenue to member states to increase investment in low-carbon transport and to combat transport poverty.

Carbon Market Watch encourages and supports the rapid decarbonisation of the road transport system internationally and within the EU.