Germany's 'Klima-Sozialplan' Aims to Slash Traffic Emissions by 2030
Addressing climate change in the transport sector requires a holistic approach, combining technical and non-technical measures. This is crucial as traffic performance has surged since 1960, with freight and passenger traffic soaring. The European Commission and German government have set ambitious goals for decarbonization and emission reduction by 2030 and 2050 respectively.
Germany's greenhouse gas emissions from traffic account for around one fifth of the total. To tackle this, the government plans the 'Klima-Sozialplan', supporting low-income households to switch to sustainable mobility. This includes promoting bicycles, e-bikes, and e-cars. The European Commission also encourages sustainable mobility through initiatives like the European Mobility Week, which sees cities testing and showcasing sustainable transport solutions. Companies are urged to reduce CO₂ emissions by using electric and hybrid vehicles, encouraging bike leasing, car sharing, and digital meetings to lower travel needs. Additionally, EU CO₂ standards and bonus-malus systems on vehicle taxes are being considered.
Motorized traffic impacts the environment through climate gas emissions, air pollutants, noise, land use, and resource consumption. To reduce these effects, a comprehensive strategy for sustainable mobility is needed. This includes avoiding traffic where possible, shifting to greener modes of transport, increasing energy efficiency, and using post-fossil, greenhouse gas-neutral fuels and electricity.
The German government aims to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector to 85 tons by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2045. This requires a multi-faceted approach that balances environmental protection with societal mobility needs. By promoting sustainable mobility and reducing traffic where possible, these goals can be achieved without excessive burdens on society.
