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Environmental information systems
Transport connects people, culture, cities, countries and continents. It is one of the main pillars of modern societies and economies. However, our current transport model is causing negative impacts on the environment and human health.
Transport accounts for about a quarter of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions and causes air pollution, noise pollution and habitat fragmentation. Moving towards a more sustainable mobility is thus paramount. It means putting users first and providing them with more affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner alternatives.
Europe aims to become climate-neutral by 2050 and this cannot be achieved without a sustainable mobility system. In 2020, the EU adopted a sustainable and smart mobility strategy along with accompanying action plan of 82 initiatives aimed at promoting, for example, the use of more sustainable transport modes. The objectives include increasing the number of passengers travelling by rail, commuting by public transport and active modes, and transporting more goods by rail, inland waterways and short sea shipping instead of by road.
For further information, please see the indicator on “Use of collective transport modes for passenger transport and non-road transport modes for freight transport in Europe” and our topic page on “Transport and mobility”.