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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
09:34
Implementation of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for the Real-driving Emissions (RDE) Regulation in Europe
Published on: December 4, 2016
Decarbonisation of European Union road freight transport: Evidence from dynamic panel modelling
Błażej Suproń1, Piotr Trojanowski2
1West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland.
Journal of Environmental Management
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Economic growth increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in EU road freight. Improving transport energy efficiency reduces emissions and partially offsets growth impacts, especially with green policies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Transport Economics
- Climate Policy
Background:
- Road freight transport is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union.
- The interplay between economic growth, transport energy efficiency, and emissions in freight transport, considering country-specific factors, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate the direct and indirect relationships between economic growth, transport energy-use performance, and GHG emissions in the EU road freight sector.
- To analyze cross-country heterogeneity in environmental conditions and climate policies affecting these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Utilized panel data for 24 EU countries from 1990-2021.
- Applied Dynamic Common Correlated Effects (DCCE) models, clustering, and mediation analysis.
- Accounted for cross-country heterogeneity and transmission mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Economic growth was found to significantly increase GHG emissions.
- Enhanced transport energy-use performance led to emission reductions, particularly in countries with lower environmental advancement.
- Improved energy performance partially mediated the impact of economic growth on emissions.
- The growth-emission link was weaker in countries with advanced green transport policies, indicating partial decoupling.
Conclusions:
- Economic growth alone is insufficient for emission reduction in road freight.
- Decarbonization requires a dual approach: technological advancements and robust policies (e.g., environmental taxation, fleet modernization) to boost energy efficiency and lower emission intensity.
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