Digital technologies offer opportunities to mitigate the impacts of mobility in Europe – from air pollution, noise, accidents and time lost in congestion, to land grabbing, habitat fragmentation and rising greenhouse gas emissions. However, according to a new analysis by the European Environment Agency, these gains depend on how digital solutions are deployed and how they affect overall transport demand. A separate outlook briefing looks more closely at teleworking and sustainability.
New Report: Digitization and Mobility
The European Environment Agency’s Transport and Environment report, published today, focuses on the digital transformation of Europe’s mobility system – a key element of the EU economy and meeting a wide range of vital societal needs. The European Green Deal aims to achieve a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but so far it has proven to be one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise.
The digital transformation of society is also changing how Europe’s mobility system works, and offers opportunities to improve the sector’s sustainability. According to the EEA’s analysis, digitalization may impact transport efficiency, infrastructure, energy needs and policies, but its impacts remain uncertain and depend heavily on the evolution of transport demand. To date, growth in transport demand has been out of balance with technological efficiency gains, such as lower fuel consumption.
One clear opportunity presented by the digitalization of the mobility system is the volume of new data and information it provides. This data and information can be used to inform more effective and targeted policies, which can support the transition to a more sustainable and equitable mobility system, according to the EEA analysis. Moreover, automated mobility is expected to improve the safety and accessibility of passenger transport, and can be used to support the transition to collective and shared mobility.
However, uncertainty about these developments remains high, and the lower costs achieved through automation could also increase demand for transport. Similarly, new technology could improve logistics, but it could also lead to a further increase in demand, which could offset any environmental gains, the EEA report warns.
New Briefing: Commuting or Working from Home?
Another example of the impact of digitalization on mobility is telecommuting, where the net environmental impact remains uncertain due to the potentially large rebound effects it entails.
According to a new briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) entitled “From daily commuting to flexible working patterns – teleworking and sustainability”, hybrid working could in principle help reduce commuting, support a shift away from car-dependent lifestyles and influence urban planning. However, supportive policies are needed to avoid negative impacts or compromises that jeopardise the sustainability of new working models, the EEA briefing says.
The briefing on remote working and sustainability forms part of the EEA’s foresight work which uses horizon scanning to identify emerging issues that could impact on sustainability efforts in Europe.
