Six European logistics and transport organisations have called for the establishment of a voluntary public private sustainable freight transport partnership in Europe.
The organisations, are ECR Europe, the European Logistics Association, the European Shippers’ Council, the International Road Transport Union and Eurocommerce and the European Intermodal Association.
A statement by the six said: “We consider voluntary public private sustainable transport partnerships as a valuable policy option and as a cost effective alternative to legislation.”
Key elements of this partnership would be:
* Structured relationship between a government (or international agency) and multiple private sector entities to address the environmental issues of freight transport
* Promotion of the availability and benefits of new technology, best practices that improve fuel efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution
* Focused on market transformation programs with objectives that look for new ways of working – not just “business as usual”
* Development of harmonised data sources and tools for transport companies and shippers to calculate the fuel and greenhouse gas performance of their transport and freight operations
* Provision of incentives to help companies to implement best practices and to invest in new technology
* Recognition opportunities for participating transport companies and shippers demonstrating advanced practices and achieving superior levels of environmental performance.
The statement said: “A European approach would significantly contribute to realise economies of scale, delivering a higher acceptance rate by the transport industry and shippers which will lead to more significant benefits than different national initiatives. Current best practices in European member states as well as in the USA (EPA SmartWay) and Japan (Green Distribution Partnership) could be incorporated in this common model.”
The European Intermodal Association said: “Though we do endorse the Climate Transact Declaration including the phrase ‘We consider voluntary public private sustainable transport partnerships as a valuable policy option and as a cost effective alternative to legislation.’, it should not become a green card for public authorities not to produce necessary coherent sustainable transport measures.”
