“Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through a socially-fair transition in a cost-efficient manner” – This is the key sentence in the European Long-Term Climate Strategy that the European Commission published today in Brussels [1]. ECF strongly welcomes this goal, as we see that the commitments made are in keeping with the environmental motivations that a large proportion of the 250 million European cyclists we represent hold. Quadrupling the modal share of cycling in the EU could reduce C02(e) emissions by 555 million tonnes by 2050, roughly equivalent to the C02(e) emissions of the whole of the UK and Ireland combined for 2015. [2]

“One of the strategic building blocks to deliver ‘Net-Zero GHG emissions’ is to “Embrace clean, safe and connected mobility”. ECF is pleased to see that the Commission acknowledges the importance of cycling, however we regret the Commission yet again failed to explicitly commit to modal shift in passenger transport, standing in contrast to Member State’s recent commitment in the Graz Declaration [3]”. Adam Bodor, Director of Advocacy and EuroVelo, ECF.

Our dissection of the strategy revealed three interesting points in the commission’s reasoning, flying below the headline announcements, which we are very happy to see.

1. “Electrification using renewables alone will not be the single silver bullet for all transport modes”. Meaning that whilst the priority might still be with electric cars, there is scope for other transport modes, like cycling, to fill the gap.

2. “Urban areas and smart cities will be the first centres of innovation in mobility not least because of the predominance of short-distance journeys and air quality considerations. […] City planning, safe cycling and walking paths, clean local public transport[…], and mobility as a service, including the advent of car and bike sharing services, will alter mobility. Combined with the transition to carbon-free transport technologies, reducing air pollution, noise and accidents, this will result in large improvements in the quality of urban living.”

3.  “Well-informed travellers and shippers will make better decisions, especially when all transport modes are put on an equal footing, including in regulatory and fiscal terms. Internalising the external costs of transport is a prerequisite for making the most efficient choices in terms of technology and transport mode.” Leaving us the strong argument that bicycle use, with large positive externalities, needs to be supported with fiscal measures.

Cycling does not only tick the decarbonisation box [4], but also fulfils the criteria to manage this transition in a socially-fair and a cost-efficient manner. Doubling cycling modal share in the EU would create 400,000 jobs in the cycling economy [5], while investments in cycling have found to yield extremely positive Benefit-to-Cost ratios (BCR). In the UK, the average BCR of cycling projects has been found to be €5.5 : €1. [6].

The Commission Long-Term Climate Strategy will now be discussed at a Member States Council Meeting in December 2018 who will have to develop Draft National Energy and Climate Plans by the end of the year. There is still time to commit to a shift to cycling.

[1] European Commission, (2018): A Clean Planet for all A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/docs/pages/com_2018_733_en.pdf

[2] EEA, Eurostat, Total greenhouse gases emissions per EU country in 2015, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20180301STO98928...

[3] H Haubold, (2018), EU Transport + Environment Ministers Commit to Green Deal for Mobility in Europe, Emphasising Role of Cycling, https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/eu-transport-environment-ministers-...

[4] ECF position paper (2018): Delivering climate-friendly transport by shifting to cycling. https://ecf.com/users/james-armstrong/trusted-content/eu-long-term-climate-strategyecf-position-paper-october-2018

[5] ECF report (2015): Cycling Works Jobs and Job Creation in the Cycling Economy. https://ecf.com/groups/cycling-works-jobs-and-job-creation-cycling-economy

[6] Department for Transport (2014):  Value for Money Assessment for Cycling Grants, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...