What this means is discouraging road transport in favour of waterways and railways, and promoting public transportation by light-rail or electrified vehicles in urban areas.
It also means taking energy efficiency much more seriously than to date. The notion that we can all go on consuming liquid fuels as in the past, because biofuels will phase in and take up the petroleum slack, is a feelgood fallacy that needs to be actively discouraged. Car manufacturers must work rapidly towards decreasing fuel consumption as well as decreasing GHG emissions per litre consumed. Currently, the car industry is not meeting its own targets on these issues. If the EU is to use the tool of obligation, this is the first and most vital area in which obligation should be applied.
The Commission, in its dual concern with reducing GHG emissions and promoting energy security, should first and foremost be considering the demand side. Lower pollution and higher energy independence result from reduced consumption.
(Meaning any GHG gains from use of biofuel should not accrue to the car industry's credit).
The final sentence might better be:
The key to lower pollution and higher energy independence is reduced consumption.
The DG is TREN, Transport and Energy.
