-
It pays to act quickly:
With swift and decisive action, Germany can become climate-neutral in the transport sector by 2045 at the latest and, when compared to a continuation of the current policy without new measures (reference scenario), can save cumulatively around 590 million tonnes of CO₂. This can be achieved without additional economic costs and while maintaining overall mobility levels in full (Transformation 2025 target scenario).
-
Political hesitancy comes at a price:
Delays in the transport transformation will lead either to missingthe climate targets or, if climate neutrality is still to be achieved by 2045, to higher costs. Structuraldisruptionand the devaluation of investments will then be almost inevitable. If the change of coursein climate policy in the transport sector does not begin until 2030 (Transformation 2030 target scenario),there is a risk of additional costs of around five percent or 500 billion euros by 2045 comparedto the Transformation 2025 target scenario as well as to the reference scenario.
-
Early investment yields long-term benefits:
Compared to the reference scenario, which does notenvisage any new measures and does not lead to the achievement of climate neutrality by 2045,the scenario of early transport transformation action (Transformation 2025 target scenario) initiallyinvolves higher investments. These go in particular towards expanding public transport capacity,purchasingmore climate-friendly vehicles and developing the charging infrastructure. Savingswill thenbe achieved in later years – primarily as a result of more efficient and reduced car traffic. In the longterm, the savings even outweigh the initial additional investment.
-
Securing long-term financing:
Building up the necessary public transport infrastructure and capacity requires sufficient long-term funding for public investment. For private investment – especially in more climate-friendly vehicles and their energy supply – citizens and companies need framework conditions that are geared towards climate protection and that provide planning certainty.
-
Creating added value through averting damage:
Quite apart from the direct financial expenditures and savings within the transport system, the earlier and more consistent the action taken, the lower will be the costs to society of the damage done to the climate, the environment and public health. In addition, costs running into billions of euros for compensation payments under European climate legislation can be averted in this way.
This content is also available in: German
The transport transformation as value added
Why it makes economic sense to invest now in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the German transport sector
Preface
In this study, in collaboration with the economic researchinstitute Prognos, we investigated how the economiccosts and investment requirements in Germany's transportsector might develop over the next twenty years –paying particular attention to the implications of thetransformation to climate neutrality. We have summarisedthe most important findings in this report; the fullscientific research and analysis on which it is based canbe found in the Prognos expert report.
The overall conclusion is promising: Germany's transportsector can already contribute its fair share toclimate protection over the next few years – without anyreduction in mobility and without additional costs whencompared to a scenario in which no additional climateprotection measures are taken. Following increased initialinvestment expenditure, an ambitious climate protectionpolicy can lead to overall economic savings afterjust a few years, even if only the direct costs of climatedamage are taken into account from among the variousexternalities. However, in order to realise this addedvalue, policymakers must act quickly and decisively.Political hesitancy has a price. The price can be measuredeither in money or in greenhouse gases, with alltheir associated risks. Greater investment in the futureis needed initially, but not more money in total. Above all,more political will is required.
Key findings
Bibliographical data
Downloads
-
pdf 2 MB
The transport transformation as value added
Why it makes economic sense to invest now in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the German transport sector
All figures in this publication
GHG emissions in the transport sector under the different scenarios
From The transport transformation as value added on page 1
Share:
Demand for passenger transport by mode
From The transport transformation as value added on page 2
Share:
