Greening transport infrastructure

Transport infrastructure has the potential to impact on the environment in different ways. Its location and the way in which it is constructed have the potential to impact on the environment, particularly on habitats and biodiversity. Additionally, its design and location need to take account of the potential future impacts of climate change. 

Transport infrastructure is also expensive. In times of limited public finances, and increasing environmental concerns around transport, it is important that public money supports transport infrastructure that improves the quality of the transport system, while at the same time being consistent with wider objectives, including those relating to the environment.

At the EU level, funds such as the Connecting Europe Facility and the cohesion funds, including the European Regional Development Fund, support the construction of infrastructure between and within EU countries. As with other public money, it is important that these funds support the development of infrastructure in a way that is consistent with wider objectives, including those relating to environmental protection.

TEPR has been involved in a number of relevant projects for the European institutions including:

• Analysis accompanying the Impact Assessment for the revision of Regulation (EU) N° 1315/2013 on Union Guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. TEPR was part of consortium that undertook this project for the European Commission (see our blog more for more details).
• Transport infrastructure in low density and depopulating areas, which was undertaken for the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. For more information on the project, see our blog.
• Mainstreaming the environment in EU transport funding, which aims to identify the extent to which different EU funds have supported sustainable transport and to understand the extent of the success (or otherwise) of the ways in which the various EU funds have taken account of environmental considerations. A report on good practice in the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Transport Plans and Programmes was also produced as part of the same project.
• Common Framework for the Biodiversity Proofing of the EU budget, which was undertaken for the European Commission’s DG Environment. The guidance documents produced within the project were based on a review of the respective policy frameworks and direct engagement with the relevant parts of the European Commission. The guidance included a General Guidance document, as well as fund-specific documents for the cohesion funds and the Connecting Europe Facility.
• Background Study towards Biodiversity Proofing of the EU Budget, which included a policy analysis and literature review.