Back in 1992 the European Commission produced a significant white paper, "The future development of the common transport policy – A global approach to the construction of a Community framework for sustainable mobility". It may be two decades old, but the document still contains interesting lessons.
Even then environmental issues were high on the agenda. The document tells us that "The effects on transport of the economic and technological developments over the last two decades have exacerbated the areas of conflict between transport and the environment." But you would be hard pressed to find any reference to the topic that now dominates any report on transport.
There is talk of CO2 as a greenhouse gas. But climate change doesn't really get a look in. A "Background Report" on the white paper is even less forthcoming. It has only a passing reference to CO2, telling us that road transport accounted for "over 80 per cent of the total final energy consumed in the Community's transport sector" and represented "over 75 per cent of its total CO2 emissions". There is no explanation as to why CO2 emissions might matter.
The white paper itself does warn that "Even if lower economic growth slows the rate of deterioration for a time, the risk of the development of the transport sector being unsustainable in the medium to long term due to its broad environmental impact remains real."
Fast forward to 2010 and another major report weaves together three major themes of the time, as its title shows: Globalisation, Transport and the Environment. As you would expect of a report from the OECD, the document is thorough and is a mine of useful data. However, its real value is in the light that it throws on what globalisation – another important concept that does not make it into the 20-year old reports – means for the environment, especially the climate.
Two decades on and long term sustainability remains a talking point. As the OECD report puts it "There is an increased pressure on industry and businesses, including the various transport modes, to contribute to sustainable development."
Commentators generally see globalisation as a good thing. The OECD is not so sure. It warns that the evidence on emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases "suggests that the net effect of trade liberalisation could be negative". For example, "increasing globalisation has led to strong growth in international shipping activity." Throw in the role of air transport and it seems that a continued internationalisation of the world's economy goes hand in hand with enhanced climate change.
Perhaps we need labels to show the 'carbon miles' that went into making and shipping all those inexpensive DVD players and TVs from China, for example. Then one day consumers might begin to accept that higher prices are the only real way to tame climate change and to make all of our activities, including transport, genuinely sustainable.
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