EU transport strategy targets ‘zero-emission aircraft by 2035’

A market-ready, zero-emission aircraft by 2035, carbon-neutral scheduled collective transport for journeys under 500km by 2030, and possible quotas on low-carbon fuels are among the goals set by the EC in its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. The strategy, which was published on 9 December, is aimed at delivering a 90% reduction in emissions from the EU’s transport sector by 2050. “To reach our climate targets, emissions from the transport sector must get on a clear downward trend,” states Frans Timmermans, executive VP for the European Green Deal. “We’ve set ambitious targets for the entire transport system to ensure a sustainable, smart, and resilient return from the Covid-19 crisis.” Targets outlined in the document that relate to aviation include a “zero-emission large aircraft” that “will become ready for market” by 2035. The goal for 2030 is that “scheduled collective travel of under 500km should be carbon neutral within the EU”. By 2050, the Commission wants to see a multimodal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) that is “equipped for sustainable and smart transport with high-speed connectivity” across the bloc. The strategy states that “all policy levers must be pulled” to “significantly reduce the current dependence on fossil fuels”. This will involve taking “decisive action to shift more activity towards more sustainable transport modes”, including increasing the number of passengers travelling by rail, and “shifting a substantial amount of freight onto rail, inland waterways, and short sea shipping”.<br/>