European Commission shares first findings on the true costs of EU transport
At the end of 2018, the European Commission shared the preliminary results of a study on the negative effects that transport has on the environment, health, air quality and climate – the so-called external costs.
The study also looks at infrastructure costs and how these are covered by relevant taxes and charges. One of the main findings is the extent of the overall external costs of transport, estimated at around €1,000 billion annually (almost 7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the 28 EU Member States).
The preliminary findings suggest that, for the time being, society largely pays for these costs, rather than the user or polluter. This is generally true for all transport modes. Road users pay for a bigger share of their total costs than rail users if infrastructure costs are included in the calculation.
However, if infrastructure costs are excluded, rail users pay for a bigger share of their external costs. Air traffic roughly cover the costs of aviation infrastructure, but only a small fraction of the environmental costs of flying. Waterborne transport users pay the smallest share of their total costs compared to users of other modes.
Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport said: "I am excited about this study because it will help us to assess where we stand with the implementation of the 'polluter pays' principle and the 'user pays' principle. Its scope and ambition go beyond what we have available so far. The findings will help us define the right incentives and charging models in order to promote a level-playing field among transport modes, as well as support our goal of zero roads deaths by 2050 (Vision Zero)."
Key preliminary insights include:
- The total external costs of transport amount to the equivalent of around € 1,000 billion annually, which corresponds to almost 7% of EU 28 GDP.
- The main contributors to this are environment (carbon, noise and pollution), accidents and congestion.
- Road is the largest contributor, accounting for three quarters of total external costs in absolute terms, and also the mode which leaves the biggest amount of external cost unpaid.
- For all transport modes, the total costs (external and infrastructure) are substantially higher than what the user pays.
Insights from this study will provide important input to the Commission's thinking on the further internalisation of these costs and possible policy measures to achieve this.
The findings will ultimately contribute to the Commission's goal of improving efficiency within the overall transport system and further reducing CO2 emissions, congestion and air pollution, thereby improving the quality of life of European citizens.
The findings were discussed at the conference "Multimodal Sustainable Transport – which role for the internalisation of external costs?" in December 2018.
To read the preliminary results from the study, click here.
