Leipzig – The International Transport Forum (ITF) wants to act as a catalyst for business action on climate change to show the full potential of carbon emissions reduction for the industry.
That is why the ITF has put together a number of action plans on how this can happen in practice. It has also identified areas where collaboration is needed in the industry. These include the use of sustainable fuels and implementing low carbon freight systems.
Another example would be to look at ways of avoiding trucks returning empty after delivery of goods.
Research by the ITF indicates, for instance, that over the long term the demand for non-urban travel will just about triple by 2050, and related carbon emissions will double over the same period.
Its research shows that by 2050 the travel demand in Africa will triple for all modes of transport.
Globally, the use of cars is expected to continue to dominate by 2050 as far as contribution to carbon emissions in the transport industry is concerned. At the same time, research shows potential does exist for 40% of the demand for cars to be shifted to other modes of transport by 2050.
Vehicle technology and a shift in modes of transport also has the potential for avoiding 45% of baseline carbon emissions by 2050 – of course, if certain measures are implemented.
As an example, Pierre Brender of the French Ministry of the Environment said inter-city ride sharing in France already makes up 1.6% of long distance travel in the country. It is even competing with train and bus transport, and still has the potential to increase more.
* Fin24 is the guest of the ITF at its summit.
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