EU Emission Trading System: Intermodal solutions to meet requirements

Escalating sensitivity and global awareness towards the climate change are pushing supranational organisations to apply strict policies to prevent irreversible outcomes. European Union, the biggest trade partner of Turkey, launched the first multinational and the most comprehensive emission trading scheme in 2005. EU ETS covers 45% or the emissions created by the member countries, while the rest 55% is regulated by Effort Sharing Decision. Transportation sector is not included in the EU ETS yet, however it is still governed by the ESD. EU is focusing on the climate change phenomenon not only by regulations, but also with investments in infrastructures especially for more efficient land transportation. The principles, weaknesses and opportunities of EU ETS and other regulatory policies and investments developed by the EU authorities are analysed to make recommendations for Turkish road transportation sector to comply, moreover, take advantage of those regulations. In order to support the thesis with quantitative results, independent samples T -Test is used. The shift from unimodal road transportation to multimodal transportation is found essential for the future of Turkish road transportation sector. Key words: Climate change, EU ETS, Effort Sharing Decision, Turkish Road Transportation Sector, Multimodality