Untitled - Ministerstwo Rozwoju Regionalnego

The biggest growth in energy consumption is observed in the following
countries: Portugal – 66%, Spain – 72%, Ireland – 79% or Slovenia – 47%. On the
other hand, other transition economies show a decline in energy consumption.
These countries include the Baltic States, with an average decrease in energy
consumption of 50%. Also Hungary decreased its final energy consumption by
6% respectively, while Poland noted 2% increase.
There is growing concern about what is happening because the pollution
caused by transport directly affects our health. Almost 25% of EU population
live within less than 500 metres from roads with the annual traffic of over 3 million
vehicles, the result being loss of almost four million years of life due to high
pollution levels.
19.4. Challenges of future transport sector development
Experiences since 1992, evaluation of the degree to which the objectives of transport
policy of 2001 have been attained, as well as analyses and forecasts developed
indicate that the measures taken so far are not sufficient to provide for
further attainment of the fundamental objectives of EU policy, in particular to
control the environmental impact and other adverse effects of transportation
while providing for mobility as the most significant objective of transport policy.
It seems necessary that mutually complementary activities be taken at all
levels of administration, at EU, national, regional and local levels, as well as action
on the part of the citizens themselves and the industry. The European policy
on sustainable mobility must thus be based on a wider set of tools enabling
switching to more environment friendly means of transport where desirable, in
long distance transport in particular, in urban areas and in congested corridors.
At the same time, each means of transport must be optimized, more environment
friendly, safe and efficient in terms of energy consumption. And finally, intermodality,
that is effective use of various means of transport independently
and in combination with others, can lead to optimum and sustainable use of
transport resources.
Based on ASSESS project report forecasts, which constitute a basis for progress
report on the attainment of transport policy objectives of 2001, we can conclude
that transport will continue to develop along the observed trends. Table 41
presents expected growth rates in individual transport modes.
Figure 58 presents present-day relations between transport, society and
economy. On the one hand, there are the benefits of transport development to
economy and society, but on the other, there are transport-related costs.
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