Emissions and inland navigation

Abstract

Inland navigation may seem to be an environmentally friendly while somewhat quaint mode of transport. However, it does in fact play an important role by supporting industrial development. While inland navigation does indeed have all the ingredients of a green mode of transport, its emissions to air must nonetheless be considered and reduced. This chapter examines the possibilities for reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollutant emissions while emphasizing win-win situations. This will be accomplished by first establishing the (European) policy context of inland navigation and explaining the basic facts and issues regarding emissions. The main part of this chapter is a presentation and analysis of possible measures to reduce emissions. The chapter concludes with recommendations to further the greening of inland navigation. The recommendations focus on the reduction of GHG and pollutant emissions from inland navigation, as these emissions stand in the way of inland navigation being a truly green mode of transport.