The reduction of emissions forms a key objective for the European Commission. The Europe 2020 Strategy confirms the 20-20-20 targets aiming at a reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels, 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources and a 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.
The ESPON 2013 Programme intends to support actions in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy by delivering evidence that territorialises the ambitions of the strategy and that detects the potential of the regions to contribute to smart sustainable and inclusive growth. The maps of this month show European regions that are affected by excessive emissions in different transport policy scenarios. The TIPTAP Project (Territorial Impact Package for Transport and Agricultural Policies) has developed the maps as part of a territorial impact analysis for the baseline, infrastructure and pricing scenario of the European Commission. The flags on the map warn policymakers where important risks of excessive emissions can be expected. The maps show that the decisions in the field of transport policy may influence quite a lot the number of regions. The maps also show geographic concentrations of transport policy impacts. Indeed, geography matters when designing policies. Read More