Transport alone is set to make up nearly half of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, new Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis shows.

European transport emissions have increased by more than a quarter since 1990, and T&E’s State of European Transport analysis finds that while emissions across the wider economy are already in decline, transport emissions continue to grow.

ICE cars are the overwhelming source of transport emissions, accounting for more than 40 per cent, and aviation emissions have doubled in the past 30 years with the additional impact of aviation emissions from contrails potentially tripling the climate impact of flying.

Since its peak in 2007, transport has been decarbonising more than three times slower than the rest of the economy. Under current climate policies its share could reach 44 per cent of all GHG emissions by 2030, up from 29 per cent today.

William Todts, executive director of T&E, said: “The good news is transport emissions in Europe have peaked. The bad news is other sectors are decarbonising three times faster. In 2030, nearly half of the continent’s emissions will come from mobility, making it the problem child of Europe’s climate efforts. Decarbonising the sector as quickly as possible is now vital if the continent is to reach zero by 2050.”

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