Digital applied sciences supply alternatives to mitigate the impacts of Europe’s mobility sector — from air air pollution, noise, accidents and time wasted in congestions, to land-take, habitat fragmentation and rising greenhouse gasoline emissions. Nonetheless, in line with a brand new evaluation by the European Atmosphere Company (EEA), these positive factors rely on how digital options are deployed and the way they have an effect on general transport demand. A separate foresight briefing seems to be at teleworking and sustainability extra carefully.
New report: Digitalisation and mobility
Revealed immediately, the EEA’s ‘Transport and surroundings report’ focuses on digitalisation in Europe’s mobility system — a system that may be a key part of the EU financial system and fulfils a variety of important societal wants. The European Inexperienced Deal goals to attain a 90% discount in transport-related greenhouse gasoline emissions by 2050 however thus far, it has confirmed to be among the many sectors which are most troublesome to decarbonise.
The digital transformation of society can also be altering how Europe’s mobility system works, and affords alternatives for improved sustainability of the sector. In keeping with the EEA evaluation, digitalisation might have an effect on transport effectivity, infrastructure, power wants and insurance policies, however its results are nonetheless unsure and rely strongly on the event of transport demand. Till now, development in transport demand has off-balanced technological effectivity positive factors, equivalent to decrease gasoline consumption.
One clear alternative supplied by the digitalisation of the mobility system is the amount of latest information and data that it affords. These can be utilized to inform simpler and focused insurance policies, which might assist a shift to extra sustainable and honest mobility system, the EEA evaluation states. Furthermore, automated mobility is anticipated to enhance security and accessibility of passenger transport, and it might be used to assist a shift to collective and shared mobility.
Nonetheless, uncertainties in these developments stay excessive and decrease prices achieved via automation may additionally enhance transport demand. Equally, new expertise can optimise logistics however they will additionally set off an extra enhance in demand, which may counteract any environmental positive factors, the EEA report warns.
New briefing: Commuting or working from residence?
One other instance of digitalisation affecting mobility is teleworking, the place the environmental web impact continues to be unsure due to the possibly important rebound results concerned.
In keeping with a brand new EEA briefing, ‘From the each day workplace commute to versatile working patterns — teleworking and sustainability’, hybrid working may in precept assist scale back commuting, assist a transfer away from car-centric existence and affect city planning. Nonetheless, supporting insurance policies are wanted to keep away from damaging rebound results or trade-offs that compromise sustainability of latest working fashions, the EEA briefing states.
The briefing on teleworking and sustainability is a part of EEA’s foresight work that makes use of horizon scanning to determine rising points that may have an effect on Europe’s sustainability efforts.
