Swedish automaker Scania plans to highlight the importance of a comprehensive sustainability approach and driveline technologies to tackle carbon emissions at the UITP 2023 Global Public Transport Summit in Barcelona from June 4 to 7.
During the event, Scania will stress the importance of adopting a holistic sustainability approach, considering environmental and social responsibilities rather than solely focusing on tailpipe emissions.
It also will underscore the ongoing requirement for electric and renewable drivelines to align with the objectives set by the Paris Agreement. The company also intends to address the potential of water-based public transport and electrified marine drivelines to reduce the carbon emissions of commuter boats.
In the event, SVP Head of Buses & Coaches Johanna Lind will present the broader impacts of public transport investments, highlighting their contributions to economic and societal development. Sustainable Transport Business Manager Jonas Strömberg will also explore the role of biomethane solutions in tackling environmental and social challenges.
Sweden Commits to Boosting Climate Action in Transportation
Scania’s presentation and discussion align with Sweden’s endeavours to achieve net zero emissions by emphasizing the importance of decarbonizing the transport sector.
Sweden is a global and European leader in renewable energy within the transport sector, with a fossil fuel dependency rate of 68 percent in 20215, starkly contrasting to the 91 percent global average.
Although fuel prices experienced a significant surge last year, the volume of transport fuel used remained almost the same, except for a minor decline in Stockholm and Gothenburg, where commuters opted for available alternatives, such as public transport and cycling.
However, Sven Hunhammar, Head of Environment at the Swedish Transport Administration, acknowledged that Sweden still has a long way to go in achieving its national target of a 70 percent reduction in domestic transport emissions by 2030 compared to 2010.
Reducing consumption-based emissions to 1 tonne per capita by 2050 is crucial to achieving Net Zero targets, as the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) recommends.
In Sweden, the transport sector is responsible for 17 percent of the country’s total emissions, which are 7.6 tonnes per capita. SEI also claims that effectively reducing these emissions requires implementing policies considering social factors.
The research organization also suggests that Sweden’s strategies to reduce transport emissions should incentivize the public to embrace more sustainable modes of transportation.