by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Over 5 percent of Europeans die prematurely because of inadequate air quality; poor air is unhealthy. The EU Environment Agency presented new figures on air quality. In 2020, 96% of the European population was exposed to more particulate matter (PM2.5) than the World Health Organization considers healthy. NOx and Ozone also cause health problems. The …
The recent proposal for the new Euro 7 standards to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles, although taking some positive steps in the right direction, was met with serious concern by POLIS and Eurocities. Both organisations penned a joint letter urging EU policymakers to review the lack of ambition in the proposal, along with its increased …
The transport of goods, equipment, and waste to, from, in, and through urban areas (city or urban logistics) is essential for the economic vitality of the city but, at the same time, makes urban environmental and social targets more difficult to achieve The European Green Deal and the UN Sustainability Goals also challenge the ways …
Ten more countries have supported a Dutch initiative for cleaner heavy road transport vehicles like buses and lorries. The countries in question are Ukraine, The United States, Aruba, Belgium, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Croatia, Liechtenstein, and Lithuania. Today they signed an agreement to ensure that all new lorries and buses from 2040 onwards in …
A US Department of Labor rule proposed this week would make it more difficult for companies to treat workers as independent contractors, a change expected to shake up ride-hailing, delivery, and other industries that rely on gig workers. The proposal would require that workers be considered employees, entitled to more benefits and legal protections than …
Urban logistics is characterized by a high degree of freight flow fragmentation, the employment of various delivery methods, and the use of various vehicle capacities. Urban logistics is essential for inhabitants’ quality of life, both negatively and positively. It plays a prominent economic role with significant advantages for multiple stakeholders along complex, dynamic supply chains. …
The City of Amsterdam has a policy framework for making mobility in the city more sustainable. The municipal procurement and tendering of facility goods and services can help shape the vision and policy for zero-emission transport. A report evaluated the procurement processes of facility goods and services and freight transport and logistics hubs for facility …
A paper by Astrid Bjørgen and Marianne Ryghaug explores how governing bodies and planning authorities in Norway take urban freight transport into consideration in three different cities. Based on empirical studies of actors and processes relevant to city planning, the paper highlights challenges in integrating urban freight transport considerations in city planning. The paper demonstrates how different planning …
Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) are the transportation sector’s second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and its most significant source of air pollutant emissions globally. Given the large emissions footprint of HDVs, the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council (ZEVTC), whose membership represents countries accounting for about half of global vehicle sales and a quarter of global HDV …
To support this transition to a cleaner and more efficient freight system, local authorities need to understand their role and what opportunities might arise from the overall national strategy. For this reason, the Local Government Association (LGA) has commissioned Dr. Daniela Paddeu of the Centre for Transport and Society, the University of the West of …