Mobility

Concrete solutions to make 1.5-Degree Lifestyles possible in the mobility sector

Find more at sustainable-prosperity.eu
The energy price inflation is dramatically impacting the mobility sector, and the effects are particularly hard for low-income households. Reducing transport demand and shifting modes of transport are key measures for bridging the gap between the current and needed trajectory of emissions reduction. Policies for 1.5-Degree Lifestyles must be explicitly designed in a way that is fair, strengthening the capacities of vulnerable groups while reducing carbon-intensive luxury forms of mobility such as frequent flying or SUV’s. At the same time, sustainable forms of travel need to be enabled, investing in public transportation, building more cycling lanes in cities, and extending railways to replace short-distance flights.
“The transport sector is a key contributor to the 1.5 degree goal as it currently covers nearly 30% of the EU’s emissions” (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, 2021)
Policy brief
Mobility in a Carbon-Neutral Europe
Reshaping Mobility Policy for Equitable 1.5 Degree Lifestlyes

This policy paper shines a light on the current gap in the EU’s transport strategy: Coupling supply-side energy efficiency measures with a suite of demand-side policies that prioritise equity and limit material and energy demand is largely missing. Energy-efficiency measures are fundamental, yet not sufficient to reach climate targets if not coupled with socio-cultural mobility and transport policies aimed at decreasing energy and material demands in an equitable way. This is because current gains in emissions reduction with energy-efficiency measures are being offset by emissions increase via growing energy and material demand.

Systemically rethinking EU citizens’ lifestyles by designing a transport system that improves wellbeing with less materials and energy is key to unlock untapped potential to meet the aspirational 1.5° C target and climate neutrality by 2050. This paper puts forward four socio-cultural mobility policies aimed at both improving equity and citizen wellbeing whilst reducing GHG emissions.