PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE? - TU Berlin

66
Figure 2.2 The Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Environment
Equity
Economy
2.4 “Sustainable Transport”
Given its enormous emissions and its land use requirements, transport quickly
became a major focus for concern within the larger discussions on sustainability. The
environmental and social impact of transport are enormous. Transport is responsible for
about 50 percent of global oil consumption, up to 90 percent of carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions in heavily trafficked urban areas (World
Resources Institute 1996). Transport emissions are a both major contributor to global
warming and a significant threat to human health. The WHO estimates that in European
cities, 80,000 adult death every year are related to long-term exposure to traffic-related
air pollution (WHO 1999:16). Noise from transport also has significant health impacts.
About 65 percent of Europeans are exposed to noise levels of 55-65 dBLAeq over 24
hours, which have shown to lead to serious annoyance, speech interference, and sleep
disturbance (WHO 1999:17). Globally, over 500,000 people are killed in road accidents