Sustainable Europe 2030 - Sustainability Academy

The topic of sustainable transportation has attracted more and more attention in Europe over the past ten years, as cities work to lower their carbon footprints and encourage a more environmentally friendly way of life.

Greenhouse gas emissions by transport account for 28% of total emissions in the European Union and 37% globally. EU governments have been working hard to find innovative solutions to reach European Green Deal’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Public transportation, electric vehicles, and bicycles have all emerged as important solutions to the problems associated with urban mobility. So how are these sustainable transportation options changing urban mobility in Europe?

Electric Cars: The Future of Mobility

One of the most promising ways to lessen transportation’s carbon footprint is through the use of electric vehicles. Over the past few years, the sales of electric vehicles have been steadily rising, with Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden setting the European pace. The advantages of electric vehicles are obvious: they have no tailpipe emissions, cost less to operate and need less maintenance than conventional vehicles. Governments in Europe have also been providing incentives, such as tax breaks, subsidies, and free parking in cities, to promote the use of electric vehicles.

Bicycles: A Sustainable and Healthy Option

In Europe, bicycles have long been a common form of transportation, and as more cities build out their cycling infrastructure, the popularity of bicycles only grows. Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen are setting the bar high when it comes to promoting cycling as a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation in cities. Cities all over Europe have started to adopt bike-sharing programs, which offer locals and visitors a practical and affordable means of transportation.

Public Transit: A Key Component of Sustainable Transportation

Sustainable transportation in Europe heavily relies on public transit systems like trains, buses, and trams. Public transportation makes it easy and affordable to get around cities, which decreases the need for personal vehicles and eases traffic congestion. Many European cities have made investments to update their public transportation infrastructure, including the creation of electric buses and trams. Additionally, some cities have free or inexpensive public transportation, enticing people to take it instead of their cars.

The Future of Sustainable Transportation in Europe

Urban mobility in Europe is changing as a result of sustainable transportation options like electric cars, bicycles, and public transit systems. These alternatives provide a way to lessen the carbon footprint of transportation, enhance air quality, ease traffic, and support active and healthy lifestyles. Although it appears that sustainable transportation in Europe has a promising future, this potential will only be fully realized with continued investment and promotion.

Want to be a driver of change towards a more sustainable future? Sustainability Academy’s certified courses are designed by leading professionals and trainers with expertise in the field of sustainability.

The Center for Sustainability and Excellence has a long-standing history in Europe of providing Sustainability Education to global FT 500 corporations and executives.

This June in Brussels Sustainability Leaders from all over Europe will join the new advanced edition of the Certified Sustainability (CSR) Program. This training will bring together high level professionals from different countries, fields and companies to join the two-day workshop, to develop and enhance their business strategies through CSR frameworks.

The sustainability agenda at the European level is “a positive agenda, it is about making people’s lives better” (European Commission, Reflection Paper, “Towards a Sustainable Europe 2030”). The European Union is strongly supporting the transition to a low-carbon, more resource-efficient and sustainable economy and it has been at the forefront of efforts to build a financial system that supports sustainable growth.

Corporate Responsibility (CSR) is a key enabler of the transition to a more sustainable future, as private actors’ engagement is needed to deliver efficiency and results. CEO’s and the whole C-Suite need to be sustainability experts. The European Commission openly addressed the need for implementing further actions to stimulate companies to put sustainability at the core of their business process, through incentives.

Sustainability professionals have to address new legislation, integration of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into the current sustainability plan, new and upcoming trends, ways to influence and get support from C-suite executives, the role of Investors and how to maximize their corporate performance in ESG ratings.

CSE will be in Brussels, Belgium, in June 20-21, 2019. The Certified Sustainability Program provides tools for the design and implementation of the corporate Sustainability plan, as well as effective management of Sustainability complexities within their organization.

This program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Findings from CSE’s recent European Research on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on Sustainability Reporting practices of more than 500 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDGs and external assurance practices.