Call for collective action to achieve the decarbonisation of transport in Europe
Call for collective action to achieve the decarbonisation of transport in Europe

By 2030, we, together—citizens, elected officials, and businesses—have an historic responsibility to implement all that is necessary to reach the European goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%.
At the heart of this decade of action, it is imperative we reconcile growth with ecology. We must move towards a new, resilient economic paradigm capable of combining economic challenges with the ambition to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent.
While greenhouse gas emissions have decreased across all sectors within the European Union today, there is one exception: transport, which accounts for 25% of total emissions, with 71.7% coming from road transport.* Mobility is essential for access to employment, healthcare, education, culture, and leisure. It also helps to reduce poverty and inequality.
*European Environment Agency 2022
WE, AT MOVIN’ON, WISH TO REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DECARBONISATION OF EUROPEAN MOBILITY WHILE SUPPORTING LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS.
If the decarbonisation of goods transport is a matter of urgency, this raises a crucial question: in both the public and private sectors, what energy(ies) should be applied for which use(s)?
The energy revolution is profoundly transforming the business models of multimodal hubs, now obliged to manage diverse energy supplies. Investments in energy infrastructure have long-term impacts. Our actions must consider the ROI of infrastructure and the synergies between different modes of transport, prioritising technological adaptability to ensure consistency, profitability, and energy efficiency.
Safer or greener?
The European car market is currently facing two trends in contradiction with the challenges of decarbonised mobility. On one hand, a safety policy aiming to achieve zero road fatalities, involving enhanced equipment. On the other, a goal of transitioning to fully electric vehicles by 2035, structurally reinforcing this phenomenon.
How to reconcile ecology, economy and mobility for all, across all territories?
Technological innovations have a role to play: the potential of increasing vehicle automation and connectivity must serve the public interest and provide concrete solutions for more sustainable and inclusive mobility. The shared automated shuttle, a public transport option that is electric and driverless, is a good example: 3 out of 4 French people* believe it will offer new services and enhanced services (at night, at off-peak hours...) for medical appointments, work, study locations, leisure activities, or shopping.
*Macif-Védécom 2024 Barometer "The French and Automated Vehicles"
How to enhance connections between railways, waterways, maritime and land routes to cities, ports, airports, and terminals all across Europe?
The Movin’On impact coalition is working on the coherence and efficiency of a large intermodal transport network across our continent. Due to their CO2 reduction potential, modal shifts are crucial for decarbonisation strategies and combating climate change:
Freight : Shifting freight from road to rail can reduce CO2 emissions by about 75% per tonnekilometre. In regions where electricity comes primarily from renewable or low-carbon sources (such as hydroelectricity, nuclear, wind, or solar), CO2 emissions associated with rail transport are even lower*.
Passengers : Shifting passengers from car or plane to train can reduce CO2 emissions by about 50 to 90% per passenger-kilometre, depending on the initial mode of transport and the type of train used*.
*International Transport Forum: www.itf-oecd.org
What if mastering new technologies and economic models such as circularity represented new opportunities for Europe?
Better professional adaptability to future industries.
The challenge is to ensure the availability of skills at the right time and place by synchronising education, vocational training, and labour market needs across Europe.
How do we achieve this?
- By developing new skills through training.
- By supporting the transformation of the relevant economic sectors.
- By implicating both public and private players in particular in education.
How to give a new status to waste and speed up processing at the European level?
Today, car recycling is nearly 95% ensured. In reality, 85% when subtracting the 10% related to their “value recovery» (energy recovered by burning parts). Among the 85% of recycled or reused materials, many undergo "downcycling" (recycling for lesser-quality uses).
The emergence of electric vehicles "mechanically" reduces the share of the usage phase in the carbon footprint over the full life cycle, as the vehicle no longer consumes fossil fuel. Vehicle recycling thus plays a more significant role in the carbon footprint and provides new perspectives for transforming recycling from "local craftmanship” to a true European industry.
To realise our ambitions, we are inviting the new European political leaders to join our international experts and the Movin’On community at the Movin’On Summit, the International Summit on Sustainable Mobility, to be held on 7 November 2024 in Brussels.
Together, we will identify concrete levers for action to make the decarbonisation of transport in Europe a reality.
For more information:
Share
Tweets de @movinonconnect
Movin'On 2035 TODAY EP02 - Circular Economy & Competitivity
Movin’On 2035 TODAY EP01 – Fair Mobility for All https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNxagBrWZbGj
✨ THAT'S A WRAP!
Movin'On Summit 2024 has just concluded in Brussels!
More than 350 leaders and experts in sustainable mobility gathered to exchange ideas, collaborate, and share their vision for desirable and decarbonised mobility in Europe. Together, we explored ways to build…
🔴 Live from #MovinOnSummit2024
@AshaSumputh has just invited Denis Machuel, CEO at @AdeccoGroup and Florent Menegaux, President of the @Michelin Group & President of Movin'On
Sustainable mobility news
Discover the latest trends, analyses per theme, and our next meetings.