European Commissioner Sinkevičius: Residents use polluted transport because they cannot find affordable alternatives

“Broadly speaking, the European Green Course is an action plan to make Europe a climate neutral continent by 2050. The green course is particularly relevant in the transport sector, as its emissions are increasing, thus requiring significant changes to meet the EU target of reducing emissions by 90% by 2050 ”, said the European Commissioner.

According to Jurgis Adomavičius, Chairman of the Board of the Transport Innovation Association, Lithuania already has stricter requirements for “green procurement” for public transport, until 2030. Buy only clean public transport before the end of the year. However, up to 88 percent are currently. Minibuses, buses and trolleybuses still run on diesel, only 5 percent. electricity, 3 percent. natural gas.

The problem of climate change is multifaceted

European Commissioner Sinkevičius points out that the problem of climate change should not be seen as created solely by the energy and transport sectors: ecosystems and climate. “

As an incentive for Lithuanian companies, the public sector and public organizations to choose the green course, the Lithuanian Railways is organizing a contest “Towards Green Transport”. The International Transport Innovation Forum will host “Green Awards”: the winners of the contest will be announced with the best and most innovative green solutions.

However, the initiative of institutions, organizations or companies alone is not enough for the successful implementation of the green course.

“We may have a hard time writing strategies and action plans, but if the public does not care, if the change that politicians will offer seems strange to them, the objectives of the green course will not be achieved,” says Virginijus Sinkevičius.

Before leaving the responsibility on the shoulders of the population, we must ensure that there are acceptable ecological alternatives.

The Forum’s rapporteur points out that public awareness of climate change and its possible consequences is increasing, and people are increasingly choosing more sustainable alternatives. “Many people are already changing their urban mobility habits and I have no doubt that that part of society will only grow as more and more alternatives emerge.”

However, the transition to environmentally friendly alternatives is not as fast as one would like. “Residents use contaminated transportation not because they want to harm the planet, but because they cannot find adequate and affordable alternatives.” Practical, convenient, acceptable and accessible to the public.

“If we want to encourage people to use public transport more often, we have to make sure it is convenient, clean and can get to its destination quickly. If we talk about electric cars, infrastructure is also required, a sufficiently wide network of fast-charging stations. In Lithuania, the network of these stops is expanding, but it is still insufficient to achieve a breakthrough in promoting this type of transport. Especially when it comes to the courtyards of apartment buildings. Therefore Before placing responsibility on the shoulders of the population, through taxes, fines or other means, we must first ensure that everything possible has been done to create acceptable and accessible alternatives for the population ”, explains V. Sinkevičius.

The ambitious goals of the Green Course have a significant impact on business.

Scania, the world’s leading provider of solutions and services for heavy vehicles, has already adapted to the objectives of the green course. “The ambitious CO2 reduction targets have a significant impact on the company’s operations, both internal processes and product development,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, ​​Executive Vice President of Scania.

According to a Scania dealer, many of these vehicles, both in the truck and bus segments, have been used successfully with biofuels, and more and more electric and heavy-duty vehicles are on European urban roads.

A. Vlaskamp notes that working with green alternatives poses two main challenges: the price of renewable fuel and the necessary infrastructure.

“We have developed alternative technical solutions, but to implement them, we still need the political support and competitiveness of alternative solutions,” says a Scania representative.

This topic will be discussed in more detail from October 21-22. The International Transport and Innovation Forum in Vilnius will be attended by European Commission Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, DKV Euroservice Director of Mobility and Sustainability Marc Erens, Scania Executive Vice President Alexander Vlaskamp, ​​Lithuanian Minister of Transport, Marius Skuodis, and other speakers.

Those who do not have the opportunity to attend the forum live will have the opportunity to follow the forum posts online, on the Delfi portal and transportoforumas.lt.