Rail is the most environmentally friendly form of freight transport, generating the smallest carbon footprint – industry experts have been arguing unanimously for years. With climate change accelerating, a shift to greener forms of freight transport seems inevitable, particularly in the context of growing trade in goods between the EU and China.
According to estimates by the International Council on Clean Transportation, railroads account for only 4.6 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions produced by transportation. In this respect, rail transport beats all other forms (road, sea, and air).
The transition to more sustainable transport is also driven by the European Green Deal, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90% by 2050 compared to 1990. Data from the European Environment Agency also speak in favor of switching to rail.
In this context, it is also worth mentioning the Rail Freight Forward declaration, a coalition of companies and rail freight federations from across Europe that has pledged to help reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector by up to 290 million tonnes over the coming decade.
The matter assumes particular importance in the context of growing trade in goods between the European Union and China using the New Silk Road. It is worth recalling that one of the key locations of the NSR is the Brest/Terespol border crossing, behind which is located the Małaszewicze Cargo Terminal.