European inland navigation is committed to a sustainable and competitive economy and is already capable of achieving a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions today, as long as navigable waterways are well maintained.

Three European inland navigation organisations, the European Barge Union (EBU), the European Skippers Organization (ESO) and Inland Navigation Europe (INE) have sent letters of congratulations and support to Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.

The letters spell out the fact that, while transport’s carbon emissions in general are still on the increase, inland navigation emits 3.5 times less CO2 per ton-kilometre than trucks and has reduced its fuel consumption since 1990 by 15 per cent. Already the technology and techniques exist to allow inland navigation to say that a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions is achievable today, as long as navigable waterways are well maintained. The organisations want to apply these techniques rapidly across the entire European fleet. They reiterate the fact that, while the rest of the world is looking for reductions by 2030, inland navigation is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

The letters remind the new environment commissioner that, with regard to air quality, European inland navigation actively campaigned for an earlier introduction on the market of cleaner fuel for inland navigation, as it gives a real boost to eco-innovation and it enables reductions of air pollutants by 90%.

The organisations also stress the importance of evolving techniques in river engineering and ship design which create numerous opportunities to combine living waterways with cost-efficient inland navigation. Rather than the prevailing isolated approaches, the organizations are strongly in favour of cross-sectoral thinking where all functions of the water environment are combined in integrated planning for the benefit of regional communities and economies.

EBU, ESO and INE ask for the full support of the new commissioners to enable inland navigation in Europe to meet its ambitious goals, stressing that investments in a green future need to start right now. They call for an ambitious European inland navigation plan securing reliable planning conditions through the creation of lean rules and tailor-made incentives for small businesses to encourage green innovation.