EU2020: Inland waterways contribute to environmentally sustainable transport
Some interesting facts………
- Inland waterways are among the safest and most environmentally friendly modes of transport but at 3.5% its share in intra EU goods transport is lower now than in the 1990s.
- Between 1997-2007 Energy consumption for waterways fell by 20%, air travel rose by 40% and road by 20%
- Road transport accounted for 76.5 % of total inland freight in Europe with just 5.6 % accounted for by inland waterways – one third of inland freight in the Netherlands carried by inland waterways
- To achieve Europe’s targeted 80% CO2 reduction by 2050 compared to 1990, oil consumption in the transport sector must drop by 70%, implying a revolution in transport fuels and the way we travel.
- The EU has more than 4.5 million km of paved roads, 212 500 km of railway lines and just 41 000 km of navigable inland waterway
Roads, railways and motorways are cutting up Europe’s landscape into ever smaller parcels, with serious consequences for biodiversity. Nearly 30% of land in the EU is moderately, highly or very highly fragmented, restricting movement and breeding of many different species. ‘Laying the foundations for greener transport’ is the latest in an annual series of reports published by the European Environment Agency under the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM). Click to read full report.
Amongst the policy recommendations being considered by Waterways Forward project partners is a policy for transport and accessibility. The WF partners recommendation for EU2020 policies:
- Grant support (capital & revenue) is provided for inland waterway freight & passenger services to encourage a shift from road transport
Waterways Forward Swedish partner, County Administration Varmland, has developed the good practice – ‘Integrated waterway management and planning for freight traffic on Lake Vänern.’ The good practice describes Lake Vänern co-operation – how authorities and regional actors can co-operate when working on integrated waterway management and planning. Increased freight volume versus environmental and nature development of Lake Vänern. Click to view a selection of illustrated good practices visit the Waterways Forward website.
Source:
- http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strategies/doc/2011_white_paper/white_paper_2011_ia_full_en.pdf
- http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strategies/doc/2011_white_paper/white_paper_2011_ia_full_en.pdf
- http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-CD-10-220/EN/KS-CD-10-220-EN.PDF
- http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-CD-10-220/EN/KS-CD-10-220-EN.PDF
- http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strategies/facts-and-figures/putting-sustainability-at-the-heart-of-transport/index_en.htm
- http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strategies/doc/2011_white_paper/white_paper_2011_ia_full_en.pdf
Waterways Forward blog 
French retailer Franprix to start transporting containers along the River Seine
http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/article.htm?artid=20017946724&src=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed-IFW&utm_medium=Twitter-transportevents
It’s really important to strenghten the freight trasport on waterwyas to achieve Europe’s targeted 80% CO2 reduction by 2050 compared to 1990. but as you can see from data reported (The EU has more than 4.5 million km of paved roads, 212 500 km of railway lines and just 41 000 km of navigable inland waterway) it’s necessary to open or re-open many stretches of waterways.
In nortern Italy, the “padano-veneta waterway” is looking at ambtious goals, but without a stronger policies support, a very very long way is required.
more info at the following links (unfortunately in italian only):
Click to access 4495_Fase_1___Elaborato_di_analisi_in_bozza_101013.pdf
http://www.trail.unioncamerelombardia.it/site/infrastructure/show!4494
http://www.provincia.mantova.it/news_detail.jsp?GTemplate=default.jsp&ID_NEWS=691&areaNews=11
Waterways Forward partners have identified priority areas and started discussions of draft policy recommendations which include – policy for transport and accessibility,
EU Transport policies:
• Attention should be given to the special mobility/access issues associated with greater understanding and recognition of the full range of ecosystem service benefits delivered in the appraisal of water freight transport schemes and in EU / national government support for transport by waterway
• Grant support (capital & revenue) is provided for inland waterway freight & passenger services to encourage a shift from road transport
Reblogged this on Waterways Forward blog and commented:
Amongst the policy recommendations being considered by Waterways Forward project partners is a policy for transport and accessibility. The WF partners recommendation for EU2020 policies:
Grant support (capital & revenue) is provided for inland waterway freight & passenger services to encourage a shift from road transport