Logistics is one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, contributing to economic growth and international competitiveness. In the face of the steady growth in freight volumes throughout Europe, EU policy focuses on increasing the efficiency of freight logistics and reducing environmental impacts.
As a significant area of EU transport policy, logistics has been selected for the TRIP series of policy brochures to highlight the contribution of EU-funded research to policy and the implications for future policy and research.
This series of policy brochures is an essential component of the comprehensive Transport Research and Innovation Portal (TRIP) that provides open access to the results and best practices of research programmes and projects in the European Research Area (ERA). A central theme of research policy under the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Research Area has been identified to foster the free circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology.
TRIP serves policy makers and research managers involved in all aspects of the transport sector. The Portal is developed and maintained by the TRIP Project Consortium and funded by the DirectorateGeneral for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
The policy brochure presents an overview of current and future policy on smart and sustainable logistics and EU-funded research to support development and implementation of this policy. Additional information on transport research programmes and related projects is available on the Transport Research and Innovation Portal website at www.transport-research.info.
Reducing environmental impacts
In the last two decades, transport-related greenhouse gas emissions have increased substantially, one third of these emissions is attributed to freight transport (EC, 2012b; 2007c). With increasing growth in freight transport, EU policy is to improve freight logistics while simultaneously minimising the negative impacts of this growth.
The policy focus is to reduce the heavy dependence on fossil fuels (EC, 2011a). Constant high levels of CO2 emissions threaten the EU target of 60 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 2050 with respect to the 1990 level (EC, 2011a).
Freight logistics also places additional burdens on society in the form of safety risks, noise hindrance and air pollution. Traffic safety has significantly improved in the last decade and this trend is set to continue. However, traffic noise and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX ) and particulates still have negative impacts on public health and the environment (EC, 2008a). These impacts could be reduced substantially by converting freight vehicles to sustainable fuels and propulsion systems, and by employing advanced information and communication technologies for more efficient logistics.
Enhancing efficiency and competitiveness
Europe is the home of many companies that are world leaders in logistics (EC, 2012a). But volatile fuel prices and infrastructure congestion are putting logistics costs under pressure (EC, 2007c). Road traffic congestion affects 10 % of the road network, resulting in an annual cost of 0.9 to 1.5 % of GDP in the EU (EC, 2008b).
You may view the full brochure by clicking below:
Source and Image Credit: TRIP
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