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| French scheme will be change to promote less polluting transport European Commission gave the French authorities the go-ahead to modify an aid scheme it had authorised on 5 March 2003 to limit greenhouse gas emissions caused by transport activities. The changes which the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe) has made to the multiannual scheme comply with the objectives of sustainable development, in conformity with the European Union's commitments in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol. The French Environment and Energy Management Agency may grant aid until 2007 within the initial budget (maximum EUR 22 million a year) to promote a series of measures to look at how transport is organised and to encourage the development of clean, fuel-saving vehicles. The measures proposed by France follow the thinking set out in the Green Paper “Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply” and the White Paper “European transport policy: time to decide” which recommend using cleaner modes of transport that make more efficient use of energy to counter energy dependence and fulfil Europe’s environmental commitments. This scheme will enable local authorities and transport companies to incorporate the environmental dimension more effectively in transport projects. It will provide financial support for studies for the evaluation of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and for the development of combined road/sea transport. It will also encourage individuals and firms to acquire electric vehicles, filters to eliminate pollution from old vehicles, and vehicles that use more environmentally friendly fuels, in particular natural gas. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |