Test 1 : Sustainable transport

Question 1

What are the characteristics of a sustainable transportation system?

Answer 1

• Allows basic access needs of individuals and societies to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem health, and with equity within and between generations.
• Is affordable, operates efficiently, offers choice of transport mode, and supports a vibrant economy.
• Limits emissions and waste within the planet’s ability to absorb them, minimizes consumption of non-renewable resources, limits consumption of renewable resources to the sustainable yield level, reuses and recycles its components, and minimizes the use of land and the production of noise.

Question 2

What are the requirements of an environmentally sustainable transport system?

Answer 2

• Does not endanger public health or ecosystems.
• Meets needs for access consistent with the use of renewable resources at below their rates of regeneration, and use of non-renewable resources at below the rates of development of renewable substitutes.

Question 3

What are the proportions of transport concerning different environmental loads?

Answer 3

• Emissions (into air): 10-50-80% (based on the type of pollution)
• Noise load: 40-60%
• Acidification: at least 50%
• Eutrophication: 20-25%
• Climate change: 25-40%

Question 4

What is the modal split in Hungary for passenger transport and freight transport?

Answer 4

• Passenger transport: Car (based on pass.km %), Bus, Tram, subway, Rail, Air.
• Freight transport: Road, Rail, Inland water tr., Pipeline (based on tonnekm %).

Question 5

What are the goals of the European Commission’s White Paper on Transport Policy?

Answer 5

• Build a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment.
• Reduce Europe’s dependence on imported oil.
• Cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.
• Goals by 2050 include no more conventionally-fueled cars in cities, 40% use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation, at least 40% cut in shipping emissions, and a 50% shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport.

Question 6

What are the barriers towards future changes in sustainable mobility?

Answer 6

• Incumbent interests of the automotive industry and other stakeholders.
• The long lifetime of ships and aircraft.
• Slow decision-making processes in the international transport sector.
• Improvements in efficiency tend to make products or services cheaper, which can lead to increased consumption (a ‘rebound effect’).

Question 7

What are the key messages of the report on niches and policies that can create change?

Answer 7

• Important technological developments and innovative business models have arisen that could lead to a drastic overhaul of the transport system.
• The market for shared mobility is growing fast, and users of shared mobility solutions tend to exhibit more sustainable travel behavior.
• Electric cars are already a mature option and give opportunities for car sharing.
• Local governments should partner with shared mobility providers to invest in infrastructure and improve the ability of public transport to compete with other travel modes.

Question 8

What are the general elements of the Hungarian Transport Policy?

Answer 8

• Expand the Pan-European Network in Hungary by developing the domestic freeway system.
• Coordinate transport modes (rail, road, water, and air) with a view to sustainable development.
• Improve transport safety.
• Minimize environmental damage and protect natural and landscape assets while developing and maintaining transport infrastructure.
• Introduce a standardized EU conform system for tariffs and fees, benefits and revenue subsidies, along with up-to-date telematic solutions for fee collection and integrated ticketing.
• Increase incomes of transport sector employees, improve