Archive:Energy, transport and environment - statistics on three closely related domains

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Energy supply and use is of fundamental importance to society. However, energy production and consumption in all sectors of the economy has environmental impacts with transport, being recognised as one of the major sectors affecting the environment. Transportation is accounting for a big share of the energy spent for carrying out and maintaining the range and scope of human activities. The use of the internal combustion engine has facilitated the efficient movement of freight and passengers and prompted the development of a world trade network. Nevertheless, there are environmental aspects linked to transportation and these include atmospheric and noise pollution, land take, resource use and the effects of waste disposal. The largest impacts come from fuel use by transport, but the effects from development and construction of infrastructure and vehicles, as well as the waste from their disposal, add to the environmental costs of transport.

This article provides one of many examples of how transport, energy and the environment are interlinked in everyday human activities. It discusses our societal needs for transport and how they relate to the economy; the demand in energy in order to cover these needs; some impacts of transport and energy demand on the environment; and the policies that the European Union has put in place in order to develop clean energy technologies and a resource-efficient transport system that will benefit the environment and our well-being.

Figure 1: Volume of passenger and freight transport relative to GDP, 2000-2015, Index (2005 = 100)
Source: Eurostat (trans_hv_pstra)

Figure 2: Modal split of inland passenger transport, 2015 (% of total inland passenger-km)
Source: Eurostat (trans_hv_psmod)

Table 1: Freight transport performance in the EU-28 (million tkm, adjusted for territoriality)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typeall) (rail), (iww_go_atygo) (inland waterways), (road_go_ta_tot) (national road transport) (road_go_ca_c) (road cabotage transport) and Eurostat computations (international road transport, air and maritime transport)

Figure 3: Final energy consumption, EU-28, 2015 (% of total, based on tonnes of oil equivalent)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_100a)

Figure 4: Energy consumption by transport mode, EU-28, 1990-2015 (1990 = 100, based on tonnes of oil equivalent)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_100a)

Figure 5: Use of fuels in transport, EU-28, 1990 and 2015
Source: Eurostat (nrg_110a)

Figure 6: Share of renewable energy sources in transport, 2005 and 2015 (%)
Source: Eurostat (nrg_ind_335a)

Figure 7: Consumer prices of petroleum products, EU, 2005–15 (¹) (EUR per litre)
Source: Oil bulletin, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission)

Figure 8: Greenhouse gas emissions, analysis by source sector, EU-28, 1990 and 2015 (Percentage of total)
Source: Eurostat (env_air_gge), European Environment Agency

Figure 9: Greenhouse gas emissions of transport, EU-28, 1990-2014 (million tonnes of CO2 equivalent))
Source: EEA, republished by Eurostat (env_air_gge)

Figure 10: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector, EU-28, 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2015 (million tonnes of CO2 equivalent)
Source: European Environment Agency, Eurostat data code (tsdcc210)

Main statistical findings

Eurostat's energy statistics present energy consumption by economic activity and by energy source, and shows that transportation consumes one third of the total final energy consumption in EU-28. All modes of transport need energy, however the energy efficiency of each mode of passenger and freight transport and their resulting environmental impact differ significantly.

Transport statistics allow for an in depth analysis of the volume and the share of passenger transport, be it by individual cars, trains, buses, ships and airplanes, as well as for transport of freight by roads, trains or by ships on the sea and inland waterways.

Environmental statistics and accounts present the impact on the environment caused by economic activities and households, e.g. emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) from energy generation in power plants, or emission of air pollutants from vehicles with internal combustion engines.

Improved efficiency in energy generation and in energy use for transportation as well as a shift to more environment-friendly transport modes can lead to a reduction of the current pressures on the environment. Energy, transport and environment statistics combined and analysed, together with socio-economic indicators, are important elements for enabling policy makers to take decisions for sustainable, forward-looking policies. Such decisions may result in significant financial investments with long lasting impacts for the current and future generations.

Transport and the economy

The driving force for transport activities is our economy; transport is fundamental for a functioning and growing economy and its demand is high in urban, industrial and other densely populated areas.

Figure 1 shows the indexed volumes of passenger transport (in passenger-kilometres) and freight transport (in tonne-kilometres) in relation to GDP (in chain-linked volumes, at 2005 exchange rates). The charts present the link between economic development and transport needs and can answer the question if economic growth is possible without an increase in transport demands.

The extent to which transport demand for passengers and goods is coupled with GDP decreased between 2000 and 2015. The economic crisis in 2008 – 2009 had a strong negative impact on freight transport, however, passenger transport did not decline but continued to increase steadily during that period and the years after. The charts suggest that passenger transport seems to be less sensitive to economic changes than freight transport.

From 2010 – 2015 both, passenger and freight transport, showed a decreasing development in transport demand per unit of GDP: The index for passenger transport fell from 100 % to 96 % and for freight transport from 94 % to 90.1 %. This recent development can be interpreted as an absolute decoupling of transport demand from economic growth.

However, transport activities have environmental and societal impacts. Local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation contribute to global climate change. Air pollution from vehicles with internal combustion engines harm human health and biota in cities and urban areas, and affect building surfaces. Traffic noise has negative impacts on people living close to busy streets, motorways, rail tracks and airports, and growing transport volumes cause congestion, and as result of traffic accidents, fatalities or injuries.

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Regulation (EC) No 1737/2005 (generating url [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32005R1737:EN:NOT Regulation (EC) No 1737/2005]) of DD Month YYYY on ...
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