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Last changed: 18/01/12
The aviation sector participates in emissions trading in Europe as of January 2012. Airlines and business jet operators must surrender one emissions certificate for every tonne of carbon dioxide they produce. The airlines in the remit of Germany received notification in December about their allotted CO2 certificates. Companies now know how many of these emissions trading certificates are available to them free of charge until 2020. As expected, the European Court of Justice confirmed on 21/12/2011 that international airlines also have to participate in the emission trading.
There are two alternatives to the vignette: a uniform tax on mineral oil in the EU and a distance-based toll for passenger cars covering the entire German road network. These models could close the financial gap which currently exists in maintaining transport infrastructure. At present, car traffic in Germany causes 47 billion euro more in costs than are compensated through taxes and charges. UBA believes that both models are fairer than a vignette and can encourage a more eco-friendly mobility.
Road traffic in agglomerations is a major source of noise. It is also the area with the highest potential to reduce noise levels. Success in implementation of the noise action planning as required by the EU Environmental Noise Directive will depend largely on making use of the synergies of various different traffic and environmental protection plans. A study done on behalf of UBA has quantified the reduction potentials based on the example of the Hamburg agglomeration.
The key factor is not more money, but using available resource appropriately. The success of all projects also depends in particular on knowledge and know-how as well as on functioning institutional structures at all levels – local, regional and national. These are the main results of a study done on behalf of UBA which took 16 examples from around the world to explore paths towards sustainable urban transport in developing and transition countries.Low emission zones – 2012 Reforms
On 1 January 2012 the cities of Heidenheim and Urbach introduced new low-emission zones, allowing only vehicles bearing a yellow or green adhesive sticker into their centres. The low-emission zone of Pleidelsheim spans the region of Pleidelsheim, Ingersheim, and Freiberg. Many cities in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have restricted vehicle access into their low-emission zones and are no longer accepting red sticker vehicles. The green sticker is the only vehicle allowed in Frankfurt/Main, Osnabrück and Stuttgart. Munich will follow suit on 1 October 2012. The new Ruhr District low-emission zone combines new and existing low-emission zones (Bochum, Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herne, Herten, Mülheim, Oberhausen and Recklinghausen). A low-emission zone was also introduced in Hagen the beginning of the year.
Congestion, air pollution, noise, accidents and greenhouse gas emissions are already a dire reality in many cities. Urban road charges may be an option for reducing the adverse impact of traffic. This is the conclusion drawn by an expert group commissioned by the European Commission, whose report has now been published.