Decarbonisation
Transport, especially road transport, is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, accounting for almost a quarter of the region’s emissions. It is also a leading cause of air pollution in urban areas. In response, the European Commission’s Green Deal, which includes the 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, lays out a plan to transform the EU transport system to reduce its environmental impact. The strategy aims to achieve a 90% reduction in transport greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, contributing to the EU’s overarching goal of climate neutrality by that same year.
A comprehensive decarbonisation effort requires the integration of multiple sectors and stakeholders. The transition towards a cleaner urban mobility system must encompass various modes of transport, from public to private, and freight operations. POLIS supports this transition through various working groups and task forces, each dedicated to enhancing environmental sustainability.
- Clean Vehicles and Air Quality Working Group: Shares best practices on the use of clean and alternative fuels and vehicles
- Urban Freight Working Group: Focuses on reducing emissions from city logistics
- Governance and Traffic Efficiency Working Groups: Ensure that policy frameworks and traffic systems are geared toward achieving environmental goals
- Climate-Neutral Cities Taskforce: Drives forward city-level initiatives that aim at achieving climate neutrality, contributing to the broader EU ambition
POLIS also partners with global initiatives like the Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT), advocating for sustainable transport policies in the context of global climate change action and sustainable development.
The role of alternative fuels in decarbonisation
Decarbonising transport relies heavily on the deployment of clean and alternative fuels, such as biofuels, hydrogen, natural gas, and electricity. These fuels reduce harmful pollutants (eg, particulate matter, NOx) and greenhouse gas emissions while also addressing noise pollution. Local governments, including cities and regions, play a pivotal role by facilitating the uptake of alternative fuels through measures like procurement strategies for clean vehicles and the development of supportive infrastructure (eg, charging hubs).
Member in the Spotlight: Aarhus
POLIS SMCs shined bright at the EWRC!
POLIS and members contribute to newly published World Economic Forum White Paper
Twenty new cities awarded European Commission Mission label
Adoption of new EU Ambient Air Quality Rules means good news (and challenges) for cities and regions
Antwerp’s ambitious mobility strategy: A blueprint for sustainable urban transport
Member in the Spotlight: Cork
POLIS joins the REFOCUS Project for the next generation of SUMPs and regional mobility plans
SOLUTIONSplus publishes new policy brief!
GIANTS project survey: We need your support!
POLIS publishes fourth edition of Cities in motion magazine
Member in the Spotlight: Ljubljana
Meet LeMesurier: Leading the Charge Toward Clean Road Transport in Europe
Save the date for ‘Light vehicles – heavy impacts?’, a joint POLIS WG meeting with ACEM and LENS
SOLUTIONSPlus showcases low-carbon transport solutions at Transforming Transportation Conference
Member in the Spotlight: Vic
POLIS will co-host workshops at the Sustainable Tourism Mobility Forum
POLIS welcomes the European Parliament’s vote for stricter CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles
GREEN-LOG co-creation workshops bring about insights on last-mile logistics
Decarbonising logistics: Hydrogen & battery-electric truck pilots presented during second IRU-POLIS webinar
Register for the 6th European Mobility Days in Strasbourg
Join the SUM Project as Observer City!
First IRU-POLIS ‘Zero-Emission Urban Freight Webinar’ inspires over 100 stakeholders
Member in the Spotlight: Groningen
POLIS’ manifesto for the European elections goes live at the Brussels Bubble Band meeting
Explore the latest European Green Vehicle Initiative Impact Assessment!
POLIS joins in signing the Liège Declaration at Climate Summit
Flanders puts cycling on the EU agenda
Submit your abstract for the 6th European Mobility Days in Strasbourg!
POLIS’ Political Group shows the mobility leadership Europe needs
POLIS publishes new report on shared micromobility
Starting small, thinking big: The Just Transition is back in business!
eCharge4Drivers leaves its mark at the Global Mobility Call!
ESCALATE conveys for its General Assembly!
What is on the horizon for Zeeland Province?
SOLUTIONSplus walked the talk at the Walk21 Conference!
Ten European cities recognised with EU Mission label for their plans to reach climate-neutrality by 2030
EMT Madrid able to verify and certify its carbon footprint
Size matters! POLIS urges the EU to keep large and unsafe vehicles off European streets
Cities express deep concern over EP decision on ‘Euro 7’ standards
Discover the new MED Guide for Sustainable Explorers!
Covenant of Mayors and Coalition of the Willing bring to life a new resource to lower emissions in urban mobility
Register now for the Green Living Areas Mission Workshop in Ljubljana!
Paris and Antwerp lead the way in bike-sharing
Presenting the LEAD Platform: Simplifying Complex Urban Logistics Decision-Making
Digital Twins and Urban Logistics in focus: LEAD conference draws over 100 participants
‘Trolley90 and its sustainable future’: Mobility experts celebrate in Budapest this November
Barcelona Declaration sets new ambition for sustainable transport in the EU
POLIS welcomes the European Parliament’s vote for stricter air quality standards
SOLUTIONSplus met in Madrid for an exciting study tour!
POLIS x TU/ecomotive event shines a light on the future of mobility
LEAD showcases power of Digital Twins for last-mile logistics in new video
POLIS talks mobility at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2023
Decarbonisation goes regional! POLIS’ Working Groups meet in Gelderland
Upcoming Just Transition Webinar showcases urban mobility projects
Join the POLIS x TU/ecomotive event!
POLIS publishes second volume of magazine Cities in motion!
SAVE THE DATE for the POLIS x TU/ecomotive event!
Urban Public Space Design project cluster kicks off for collaboration
rEVolutionising passenger and freight transport: POLIS‘ working groups & projects explore
Shaping the future of Urban Air Mobility with MAIA and MUSE
Last stop! POLIS present at the Clean Bus Europe Platform Final Event
A new EU project is on the Horizon: meet ELABORATOR!
Transport leaders walk the talk at POLIS’ Leadership Summit
Registrations now OPEN: Join us at the Urban Logistics Innovation Day in Brussels!
UVARs & tech: Experts lead conversation on implementation and enforcement
POLIS’ Working Groups: All you missed… and more!
SMCs and Climate Neutrality: The what’s, why’s and how’s
ShareDiMobiHub partners meet in Gent, Belgium
Cities and regions in the spotlight at Amsterdam Drone Week
POLIS elevates the voices of cities at Autonomy Paris
Save the date: eCharge4Drivers organises new EIG workshop in Barcelona!
SPROUT shares Results brochure
EMT Madrid unveils new state-of-the-art electrification infrastructure
ITF publishes new report on public transport and shared mobility
Answer NextETRUCK’s survey on e-freight!
ISA-FIT launches market ready product
Women shifting gear! Meet the women behind the sustainable mobility transition
Regions and Air Quality Working Groups head to Gelderland
Fit for 55: European Parliament votes on zero-emission for cars and vans
Full steam ahead for POLIS’ Climate Neutral Cities Mission Taskforce!
Check out POLIS’ 2023 project line-up!
Learn about Digital Twins and Urban Logistics in new e-course!
POLIS launches two new thematic Taskforces to support the membership
Urban Transports Community shares ways to foster sustainable mobility in new video
Madrid meets European air quality standards for first time in history
Madrid becomes first major European city with a 100% clean bus fleet!
Out with a bang! e-smartec & MOBI-MIX host Joint Final Conference
Press release: Introducing LENS, a new Horizon Europe project on noise and air pollution
Shared mobility rules! MOBI-MIX publishes project final outcomes
POLIS unveils its brand-new magazine ‘Cities in motion’!
Modal shift to cleaner transport fails to materialise, shows ITF’s brief
Urban Transport Community publishes brief on urban mobility adaptation to climate change
The future is electric! POLIS welcomes stricter CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans
Answers for more sustainable urban mobility: insights from POLIS and European Commission
SPROUT contributes to CIVITAS ELEVATE e-course on data-driven approaches to SUMPs
Policy brief on e-mobility in the Mediterranean: a piece of the puzzle for decarbonisation
Apply now to the Sustainable Cities Climate Impact Challenge!
Commuter traffic planning and demand management: Regions Working Group convenes!
eHUBS launches its Blueprint: a digital handbook for mobility planners to create shared mobility hubs, even amidst a pandemic!
Kadikoy Municipality joins POLIS
CountEmissions EU – the European Commission would like to hear your views!
Apply to the European Mobility Week award for Mobility Actions
TRAN Committee acknowledges cities and regions role in e-mobility!
Bruges in the spotlight: A transport transition tour
EMT Madrid launches “ideathon” for bus of the future
Access Working Group explores car reduction, from research to action!
POLIS and members talk youth engagement at European Week of Regions and Cities
Urban Mobility Days makes a splash!
Sign the Reimagining Mobility Manifesto today!
Madrid launches the most powerful mobility hub for electric vehicles in Spain
Apply to the Call for Pilot Cities by NetZeroCities
Transport and energy poverty are discussed in new EC paper
Hyperloop Development Program publishes new vision paper
Answer Urban Transports Community’s survey on e-mobility in the Med-area
EIB releases contract guide for uptake of electric mobility
Air pollution reduction of diesel replacement revealed
SUMPs are not just for cities: Regions Working Group meets
Registration for the Annual POLIS Conference 2022 is now open!
Madrid’s new micro hub reduces the distance travelled for deliveries by 33%
Alternative fuels regulation: bring local & regional actors on board!
All hands on deck at POLIS’ Glasgow Leadership Summit!
POLIS Working Groups: What you missed
European Parliament approves binding mandate to decarbonise passenger cars
Registrations for Urban Mobility Days 2022 are now open
SMC Platform convenes again in Emmen and Groningen
Urban Transport Community successfully wraps up its first High-level Workshop in Brussels
Urban Transport Community shares policy brief on sustainable tourism and mobility in the Mediterranean
SURF Final Report gives insights on sustainable urban freight
POLIS calls on EP to push for more ambitious CO2 targets
Join the event “E-bus deployment worldwide: an exchange with SOLUTIONSPlus experts”
Join us in Brussels to discuss sustainable mobility solutions for a greener Mediterranean
Leadership Summit in Glasgow: Registrations open!
Save the date for the Urban Mobility Days 2022!
Lyon develops new logistic solution to reduce the carbon footprint of the delivery sector
Governance & Integration: MOMENTUM, disruption and data
POLIS is looking for an expert to prepare a Policy Brief on e-mobility in the Mediterranean
MORE project releases a video featuring MORE project goals for street space redesign and urban space reallocation
Get to know the MORE project tools for street space redesign and urban space reallocation!
Join the SOLUTIONSplus e-course on the Electrification of buses and integration in cities’ public transport systems!
Contribute to our survey on Sustainable mobility and tourism in the Mediterranean!
POLIS calls for tighter van CO2 limits in order to drive electrification
3rd POLIS-EPA webinar: Parking goes digital!
Brussels and Paris to establish largely car-free city centres
SAVE THE DATE for the Annual POLIS Conference 2022
Join the SOLUTIONSplus e-course on the Electrification of buses and integration in cities’ public transport systems and our kick-off webinar!
The Platform for Electromobility’s latest report confirms the inevitability of Electric vehicles transition
More than just hot air: Public Transport Lab discusses decarbonisation
Call for Expression of Interest to join EU Mission “100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030” now open
Empowering the citizen: how the WeCount Project has helped amplify the voice of Cardiff citizens
Open letter: Global coalition calls on governments at COP26 to boost cycling levels to reduce carbon emissions and reach climate goals quickly and effectively
Improving air quality now: it’s Europe’s time to act!
Hamburg promotes dialogue with fellow German cities on electrifying the taxi sector
Baden-Württemberg introduces “Public Transport Guarantee” financed by car owners
POLIS launches the Public Transport Lab, a webinar series on the future of public transport
Fit for 55 package: What does it mean for local and regional authorities?
Securing the right jobs and skills for sustainable mobility
Small and medium-sized cities discuss urban nodes, zero-emission freight and city attractiveness
Brussels will phase-out diesel cars by 2030 and fuel vehicles by 2035
The European City Air Quality viewer: a reminder of the road ahead
Promoting soft mobility in the Mediterranean: Policy Brief now available!
Flanders’ pioneering “green sensors” show vehicle emission worse than expected
Autonomy Industry Talks: POLIS members make a splash
Clean Vehicles and Air Quality Working Group joins BEUC and EPHA for collaborative webinar
POLIS launches SURF, a new project on Sustainable URban Freight
Air pollution hot spots revealed
Joint letter: More support is needed for clean bus infrastructure
New recommendations for developing electric charging infrastructure
Gothenburg establishes pioneering ‘Green Zone’
Smart solutions for electric driving: Ile-de-France takes charge
Amsterdam launches its first eHUB. With many more to come!
Madrid expands ultra-fast electric charging
Amsterdam rolls out electric charging strategy
Brussels develops intelligent kilometre charge
POLIS and IRU pledge to enhance collective mobility in cities
Clean trucking into a greener future: Electrifying EU logistics
Mobilising Mobility Webinar Series: November
POLIS call for new approach to post-Euro 6 vehicle emission standards
Webinar recording available: latest developments of the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO)
EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2020 – Registration now open!
Open Innovation Challenge: Ideas welcomed for inland ports to act on climate
Why You Should Subscribe to the e-smartec Newsletter
Polis leads COP25 workshop on the role of cities in combatting climate change
Scaling up the mass market for zero-emission freight vehicles
Polis supports call for clean trucks and vans sales targets
Brussels to ban petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035
Register for the joint Polis-EIT Climate KIC workshop “SuSMo–Shared Urban Sustainable Mobility” on 28 29 November 2019 in Brussels
When London boroughs get inspired by Dutch cities
Interreg Europe peer review service is open until June 28
INTERREG Europe: Open call for peer reviews
10 YEARS OF ELENA – supporting investments in energy efficiency and sustainable transport
Apply now: Horizon Europe – Mission Board on climate-neutral and smart cities
Five sustainable urban mobility priorities for healthy and liveable cities
Cities-industry cooperation to accelerate deployment of sustainable city logistics solutions
Cycle Education – Get on yer bikes!
Guidelines published on procuring zero emission delivery of goods and services in cities
TRA2020 Helsinki Call for Invited Sessions open
Milan launches Area B, Italy’s largest Low-Emission Zone
Towards “zero-emission” cities
Commission releases criteria for Green Public Procurement of road transport services
Clean Vehicles Directive final talks – what does it mean for cities?
European Commission shares first findings on the true costs of EU transport
Romanian EU Council Presidency: what’s in for transport?
European cities and logistics industry kick off strategic dialogue on urban freight solutions
Future urban mobility, AVs and CO2 reduction to be discussed at Smart City Expo World Congress 2018
Polis WG on clean vehicles & air quality: Hydrogen discussed in Paris
Polis chaired a session on “Autonomous vehicles: A potential game changer for urban mobility” at the Decarbonising Urban Passenger Transport Workshop in Boulogne-Billancourt (France).
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