Train, plane, car or boat: which is most eco-friendly
Motorised transport: train, plane, car or boat – which is the most environmentally friendly
Travel by air, rail, or car?
The answer to the question which mode is
most environmentally friendly may not al-
ways be obvious. The annual Transport
and Environment Report (TERM Report)
assesses the value of rail and air transport
in the context of the efforts to implement
the Green Deal for Europe. One of the ob-
jectives of the Deal is to reduce green-
house gas emissions from transport by
90% by 2050 compared to their 1990 le-
vels. The shift towards more sustainable
transport can make a significant contribu-
tion to achieving this goal. According to
the report, the shift from air to rail in pas-
senger transport could play a key role.
Environmental impact
of rail and air transport
In 2018, transport accounted for 25% of
the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. Emis-
sions from this sector come mainly from
road transport (72%), while maritime tran-
sport accounts for 14%, air transport for
13%, and rail transport for 0.4% (emissi-
ons from diesel trains only). In addition to
emissions that contribute directly to global
warming and air pollution, this data
also takes into account emissions
from the production, transfer, and di-
stribution of the energy used by tra-
ins and aircraft. Transport also causes
emissions of air pollutants that do
not come from exhaust fumes but, for
example, from abrasion caused by
brakes, wheels and tyres, and railway
tracks.
rail transport
ll
institutions
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Motorised Transport: Train, Plane,
Car, or Boat – Which Is the Most
Environmentally Friendly?
According to two studies on transport and the environment published today by the
European Environment Agency (EEA), rail transport remains the most environmentally
friendly mode of motorised passenger transport in Europe in terms of greenhouse gas
emissions compared to car and air travel.
The assessment shows that, other than walking or cycling,
rail transport is the best and most
environmentally friendly transport modality.
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