Truckers not at fault for Co2 emissions increase

The European Environmental Agency, in its most recent report 'Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe' has laid the blame for significant increases in carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland at the door of the road transport industry and the private car sector. Here John Loughran examines the report and seeks a response from the road haulage industry.

The European Protection Agency , in its latest report, Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe published last December states that Ireland is already 4.5 per ahead of its Kyoto Agreement target for 2012.

The report claims that a significant growth in freight movement by road and an increase in the number of private cars has resulted in a significant increase in carbon dioxide emissions, a key greenhouse gas.
The report states that our emissions in 2000 were well above the permitted levels for 2012 which allow for an increase of 13 per cent on the base figure. Only Spain fared worse than Ireland.

The assumed increase in road freight traffic in Ireland flies in the face of the stated European Union objective to transfer freight from the roads network onto rail and inland waterways, for environmental and road safety reasons.
The road freight and private car sector has also been blamed for raising emissions of nitrous oxide. Ironically, the increased use of catalytic converters, which cut down on air pollutants, actually increase nitrous oxide.
Unlike Ireland other countries have made huge progress in the area of reducing greenhouse emissions by closing or making major changes to heavily polluting and energy-intensive industries.

Ireland and eight other countries are not on track to meet binding targets for reductions, the report states. In contrast Germany has improved efficiency in its coal-fired electricity plants while the UK has switched from coal to gas in its power plants. The UK has also made considerable cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by liberalising the energy market, which has led to a major shift away from fossil fuels such as coal and oil to cleaners fuels such as gas and electricity.

The UK reduction was also due to significant reductions in non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including the implementation of nitrous oxide abatement measures in the chemical industry.
Last December Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy signalled his intention in the Budget to introduce taxes on fossil fuels such as coal, peat, petrol and diesel in 2004 in an effort to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Minister Martin Cullen recently warned that the introduction of a carbon energy tax regime can no longer be avoided. Minister Cullen has told his Cabinet colleagues "the tax must be levied on the basis of the carbon content of each fuel, rather than a flat energy tax."

Since 1996 - with the introduction of Euro 1 engines - the Irish road haulage industry has progressed in leaps and bounds in relation to its commitment towards the environment The vast majority of the fleet is now running on either Euro 1, Euro 2 or Euro 3 engines, producing only a fraction of the emissions compared with engines of a decade ago.

Research conducted by truck manufacturer DAF has proven that a truck fitted with one of its Euro 3 engines produces 95 per cent less harmful emissions compared with engines manufactured in the early 1990s. Put another way one truck in 1990 produced the same harmful emissions as 20 trucks running on Euro 3 engines today. This environmental saving has come at a significant cost to the haulage industry through increased vehicle prices.

Former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association Gerry McMahon refutes the European Environmental Agency claim that the road haulage industry is at fault for the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. "Over the past six or seven years, the haulage industry has invested heavily in new plant. The cost of equipment has been increasing annually since the introduction of the Euro 1 engine. So the haulage industry is definitely paying its way towards reducing emissions."

He continued: "We are paying through the nose for ultra low sulphur diesel since its introduction last year. At least three cent per litre was added to the cost of diesel with the introduction of this new fuel. The oil companies justified the increase by telling us that it costs more to produce than ordinary diesel. So once again we are paying to improve the environment."

According to Central Statistics Office (CS0) figures, 85.3 million tonnes of goods were transported by road in 1995. By 2001 the figure had increased to 203.8 million tonnes - an increase over 139 per cent over the period. In 1995 the number of goods vehicles on the road was estimated at 41,800. By 2001 the figure had increased to 76,185 an increase of 122 per cent over six years.

McMahon believes that that these figures prove his assertion that the road haulage industry is not to blame for the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. "The CSO figures clearly show that loads carried are becoming heavier, while weekly distances travelled are becoming shorter. Even though the number of vehicles have increased those vehicles are making less journeys because they are carrying heavier loads, which contradicts the EEA findings."

McMahon warns Ministers McCreevy and Cullen that the introduction of a carbon tax will have a disastrous effect on Ireland's economy and will result in hundreds of company closures and thousands of job losses. "It is not practical for the road haulage industry to absorb any further increases. New forms of taxation, for whatever reason will ultimately be passed on to industry. That will reduce Ireland's competitiveness, result in liquidations, and result in the loss of thousands of jobs."

He concluded: "Because we are on the periphery of Europe we are further away from the market, than our competitors.
Therefore, the costs we incur in getting to the market are greater. If we increase these costs through increased taxation we will become uncompetitive."