"Foreword" [2019] ELECD 1765; in Eftestol-Wilhelmsson, Ellen; Sankari, Suvi; Bask, Anu (eds), "Sustainable and Efficient Transport" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019) xvii

Book Title: Sustainable and Efficient Transport

Editor(s): Eftestøl-Wilhelmsson, Ellen; Sankari, Suvi; Bask, Anu

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Section Title: Foreword

Number of pages: 7

Extract:

Foreword
Sustainable Mobility: A Paradigm Change
Sirpa Pietikäinen


INTRODUCTION

Global warming is no longer a question of if or when. The models showing its
exponential advancement require our immediate attention. We have so far not
set our goals or ambitions at a high enough level to limit the temperature rises
to the under 2 degrees goal set in the Paris Agreement. The longer we delay the
required action, the more expensive it will be.
The need to limit our emissions is acute and radical action has to be taken
now, not later. There is no option of delaying this to a later moment: no emer-
gency brake exists that would allow us to stop global emissions from one day
to the next or to remove emissions once we reach the projected warming of
temperatures.
According to the current rate, it is estimated that we would need the resources
of four planets to satisfy our existing level of demand for raw materials by
2050. This puts physical limits to our growth, which are very real.
Transport constitutes about 25 per cent of EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2015, international aviation experienced an over 100 per cent increase in
greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels. The emissions of international
shipping also increased by over 20 per cent, with road transport emissions
increased by about 19 per cent.1
It is evident, that in order for the EU to reach its goal to reduce its transport
emissions by 60 per cent ...