Towards a European Climate Change Programme Current emission trends are worrying. Over the last years, greenhouse gas emissions at European level have been increasing instead of decreasing. The year 2000 will be crucial for climate change. The EU intends to start the political process on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol immediately after COP6. An efficient, effective and flexible transport system is essential for economic activity and quality of life.
People demand and expect convenient and affordable mobility for work, education and leisure.
Much of the grain achieved through regulating vehicle and fuel standards is being rapidly outweighed by increasing transport volumes and the introduction of heavier and more powerful vehicles. The general conclusion is that policy impetus is needed to reduce the link between transport demand and economic growth and to shift the balance towards less environment-damaging transport modes. Every day European cities demonstrate that a reduction in the use of private cars is not just desirable, but feasible. Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bremen, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Ferrara, Graz and Strasbourg apply incentives that favour public transport, car-sharing and bicycles, along with restrictive measures on the use of private cars in their town centres. These cities do not harm their economic growth or access to their shopping centres.