In The Netherlands, environmental policy in road freight transport has been focusing on improving efficiency and technology. In the 1996 "Project on Integration of Transport and Environment", a number of measures have been developed in order to reach the environmental targets that had been set for 2010. These targets consist of reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) exhaust emissions from road freight transport. In this paper, the measures that have been taken until now are evaluated. Some measures have not been introduced until now, other ones are less effective as expected and the latest expected growth rates in road transport exceed those from five years ago. It is concluded that with the "traditional measures" CO2 and NOx reduction targets will not be met. This is certainly the case for CO2. Reduction of NOX emissions has been effective but not enough for meeting the targets. This shows the need for new strategies to meet the environmental goals. New strategies consist of elements that are close to the basic assumptions that were already part of the above-mentioned integration project. This means rational use of economic instruments when developing new measures and using environmental ouput as a part of the base for a kilometre charge. (A)
Abstract