Transport Brief - Taking public sentiment seriously

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The EU’s infamous Combustion Engine Ban, which will prohibit the sale of new cars powered by internal combustion engines as of 2035, continues to be hotly debated across Europe.

A new survey conducted in Germany, France and Poland shows it as the least popular climate policy in all three countries, even behind measures like making petrol and diesel more expensive through higher carbon prices (see chart below).

Little wonder, then, that Germany’s conservative parties CDU and CSU (EPP) are calling for its repeal in their manifesto for the EU elections, unveiled on Monday (11 March).

While political opponents were quick to criticise the parties for backtracking on the EU’s climate agenda, it is worth looking beyond the headlines.

Asked about the centrepiece of EU climate policy, the emissions trading scheme, CDU party leader Friedrich Merz and lead candidate Ursula von der Leyen defended the measure, arguing that it helps companies prepare for climate neutrality.

So even if the focus of public debate shifts to competitiveness and economic growth, climate policies are unlikely to be abolished entirely.

The bigger question is whether they will remain in place when they start to bite in everyday life, such as in 2027, when the new carbon price on road fuels could significantly increase petrol and diesel prices across the EU.

Those interested in moving the climate agenda forward should start early to prepare good concepts for social compensation – taking public sentiment seriously would be a good first step.

Making rail transport more competitive, investing in infrastructure, and greening transport are top priorities for SNCF, France’s state-owned railway company, according to its manifesto outlining recommendations for the next European Commission and European Parliament.

Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU is continuing to push to reverse the controversial phase-out of internal combustion engine cars by 2035, despite the demand being dropped from the European People’s Party election manifesto.

The EU’s 2035 ban on new cars with internal combustion engines is the least popular climate protection measure in Germany, France, and Poland, even among voters of centre-left parties, a new survey conducted in the three countries showed.

Plans for constructing a gigafactory for the production of batteries for electric cars worth €7.9 billion by a foreign investor – whose name is being withheld – in the Karviná region were disclosed by the Czech government on Thursday.

Aviation industry stakeholders are displeased with the revised text of the Single European Sky (SES), informally adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on Wednesday (6 March), stating that the agreement does not go far enough to reduce delays or improve air travel capacity.

Pro-electric vehicle organisations are calling for data sharing between car manufacturers, electricity grid operators, electric vehicle charge point operators (CPOs) and consumers to facilitate wider adoption of electric vehicles, but concerns over data privacy and protection remain.

[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]

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