EU proposes banning petrol and diesel cars from cities by 2050

[colinw]

AdelaideNow: EU proposes banning petrol and diesel cars from cities by 2050

March 29, 2011 10:04AM

THE European Union's transport commissioner announced what he described as "very radical" plans to ban petrol and diesel cars in cities by 2050.

Ideas put forward by Siim Kallas for reducing Europe's dependence on imported oil and slashing carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2050 attracted harsh criticism from the auto sector, small businesses and environmental campaigners who said they were pie in the sky.

Mr Kallas set out what he called "very radical, very ambitious targets" established by the EU executive in a white paper on road, rail and sea network needs.

His vision included "close to zero fatalities" on Europe's roads, "zero" petrol or diesel cars in cities, and half of all intercity passenger and freight transport moving to rail or waterways.

"We are talking about the necessity of investment of €1.5 trillion ($2.1 trillion)" to overhaul the private sector, Mr Kallas said.

The head of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said the new strategy was a major "U-turn", dismissing a principle that the most efficient means of transport should be the one favored each and every time.

A European craft and small business employers' organisation said this was unrealistic, citing "strong financial constraints" including an absence of tax incentives or other schemes to support investment.

Meanwhile, environmental campaigners Transport & Environment attacked the lack of immediate changes.

"The only concrete action the commission proposes within its current mandate (2010-14) is to expand airport capacity, which will make the headline targets even harder to reach," said director Jos Dings.

Other key targets are for 40 per cent use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation and a cut in shipping emissions of at least 40 per cent and a 50 per cent shift away from conventionally-fuelled cars by 2030.

"We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility. It can be win-win," Mr Kallas also said.