[Article] Transport driving CO2 emissions - study

Transport driving CO2 emissions - study
28 September 2006 12:48

A new study has found that transport accounts for one third of Ireland's primary energy demand and the sector has the highest energy-related CO2 emissions.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has said the tax regime needs to be changed and congestion charges introduced to change driver behaviour.

This report confirms car ownership is up, engine-sizes are getting bigger, fuel consumption is twice as much as industry and CO2 emissions are rocketing.

The SEI study also reveals that fuel consumption by road freight has increased 264% in just 15 years due to the economic boom.

It is anticipated this trajectory will continue across the sector.

The Chair of SEI, Professor Frank Convery, has said the tax regime needs to be changed to ensure owners of vehicles of low fuel-efficiency are hit hardest.

Prof Convery also said to change driver behaviour, public transport should be improved and a congestion charge introduced.