PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE? - TU Berlin

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modernization policies. First, the EU defines its priorities for “sustainable energy
systems” which are in turn to be divided research into short-term impact research into
“clean energy,” “energy savings and every efficiency,” and “alternative motor fuels,” and
medium- to long-term impact research into “fuel cells,” “new technologies for energy
carriers/transport and storage, in particular hydrogen,” “renewable energy technologies,”
and “cleaner fossil fuel plants.” Secondly, EU research for “sustainable surface
transport” is currently introduced in the following manner: 17
The White Paper “European transport policy for 2010: time to decide” forecasts a
transport demand growth by 2010 in the European Union of 38% for freight and 24%
for passenger transport (base-year 1998). The already congested transport networks
will have to absorb the additional traffic, and the trend suggests that the proportion
absorbed by the less sustainable modes is likely to grow. The objective is
consequently to both fight against congestion and to decelerate or even reverse these
trends regarding the modal split … while supporting European industry’s
competitiveness in the production and operation of transport means and systems.
In other words, increasing mobility and related impacts are to be accepted as part
of competitive growth, and the main aim of transport research and policy is to de-congest
and shift traffic to lower impact, lower emission modes. The ensuing research priorities
are thus not designed to actively restrain transport growth in Europe, but instead focus on
“developing environmentally friendly transport systems and means of transport,” and on
“making surface transport safer, more effective and more competitive.” In sum,
sustainability once again appears as subservient to growth.
17 All quotes taken from the 180-page “Amended proposals for Council Decisions concerning the specific
programmes implementing the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Communicty for research,
technological development and demonstration activities,” (Commission of the European Communities
2002e).