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It cannot get any greener
Ecological advantages of the railway
According to data from the European Environment Agency, transport is responsible for approximately 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. Of that amount, almost 72 percent comes from road transport, 13 percent from air transport and 14 percent from maritime transport. Railways, on the other hand, are responsible for 0.4 percent of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, while they transport 7 percent of all passengers and 11 percent of all goods in the EU. It is also important to note that rail is the only mode of transport that has significantly reduced its emissions since 1990.
As part of the European Union's transport strategy from 2011, the strategic document „White Paper on Transport“ was formed, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60 percent by 2050 compared to the 1990 baseline, and to shift more than 50 percent of road freight transport over 300 km to rail and water transport.
One diesel locomotive or 47 trucks are required to transport one thousand tons of goods. Trucks will use three times more fuel than locomotives for the mentioned transport. This clearly shows the impact that the transfer of such a large amount of freight from road to rail would have on reducing harmful CO2 emissions.
Rail transport is the only way to align climate goals with positive economic development. If we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the fight against climate change, we need to shift freight transport from road to rail. The consequences of our inaction would have a huge impact on our health, environment and economy.