Energy consumption for transport activities stable in 2023 – European Commission

Report on EU Transport Sector Energy Consumption in 2023 and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1. Overview of Final Energy Consumption

In 2023, the transport sector in the European Union was the largest consumer of final energy, representing a significant challenge to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The sector’s consumption rose to 32% of the EU’s total final energy use, up from 31% in 2022.

• Transport Activities: 32%
• Households: 26%
• Industry: 25%

This dominance underscores the urgent need for sustainable practices within the transport sector to align with the principles of responsible resource management as outlined in SDG 12.

2. Consumption Analysis by Transport Mode

An examination of energy consumption within the transport sector reveals a heavy reliance on modes with high environmental impact, posing a direct challenge to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Road Transport: Accounted for 73% of energy consumption (10,974 petajoules), highlighting a critical area for decarbonization efforts.
• Air Transport: Consumed 13% (1,866 PJ), and notably recorded a 10% increase in energy use from 2022, moving consumption levels back towards pre-pandemic figures. This trend runs counter to climate action objectives.
• Water Transport: Represented 12% of consumption (1,810 PJ).
• Rail Transport: Used only 1% of energy (217 PJ), indicating that this more sustainable mode of transport remains significantly underutilized in the EU’s energy mix.

3. Energy Sources in Road Transport and SDG 7

The energy sources for road transport in 2023 were overwhelmingly fossil-fuel-based, demonstrating a substantial gap in meeting Target 7.2 of SDG 7, which calls for a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

1. Gas/Diesel Oil: 64%
2. Motor Gasoline: 26%
3. Renewables and Biofuels: 7%
4. Liquefied Petroleum Gases: 2%
5. Natural Gas: 0.8%
6. Electricity: 0.5%

The combined share of gas/diesel oil and motor gasoline at 90% illustrates the profound dependency on non-renewable sources, which impedes progress on climate and clean energy goals.

4. Member State Analysis and Transition Towards Sustainability

Variations among EU member states indicate different stages of transition towards sustainable transport systems. While fossil fuels dominate across the bloc, early signs of a shift are visible.

• Fossil Fuel Dependency: The share of gas/diesel oil was highest in Latvia (80%), Lithuania (75%), and Croatia (75%). Conversely, Cyprus (51%) and the Netherlands (45%) had the highest shares of motor gasoline.
• Progress in Electrification: Despite its small overall share (0.5%), electricity consumption in road transport grew by 46% between 2022 and 2023. This rapid growth, led by countries like Sweden (2.1%), the Netherlands (2.1%), and Denmark (1.1%), represents a crucial, albeit nascent, step towards achieving SDG 7 and building the sustainable transport infrastructure envisioned in SDG 11.

The data confirms that while a transition to cleaner energy in transport is underway, its pace and scale are insufficient to meet the EU’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, necessitating accelerated policy and investment in renewable energy and sustainable transport modes.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article directly addresses energy consumption, which is the core of SDG 7. It details the final energy consumption in the EU transport sector, breaking it down by transport mode and energy source. It highlights the low share of renewables, biofuels (7%), and electricity (0.5%) in road transport, pointing to challenges in transitioning to cleaner energy sources as promoted by this goal.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article’s focus on transport systems is directly linked to SDG 11. It shows a heavy reliance on road transport (73% of energy consumption in transport), which contributes to congestion and pollution, issues that sustainable urban planning aims to solve. The very low share of rail transport (1%) indicates a lack of sustainable mass transit infrastructure, a key component of sustainable communities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This goal is relevant as the article describes the consumption patterns of energy in the EU. It states that transport activities are the “highest consumer of final energy” at 32%. The massive consumption of fossil fuels like gas/diesel oil (64% of road transport) and motor gasoline (26%) represents an unsustainable pattern of consumption of natural resources.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Although not explicitly mentioned, the data presented has strong implications for climate action. The dominance of fossil fuels (gas/diesel oil and motor gasoline) as the primary energy sources for transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The statistics on energy consumption from these sources are critical for developing policies to mitigate climate change, which is the central aim of SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

  The article provides specific data showing that “renewables and biofuels” account for only 7% of energy in road transport, and electricity for just 0.5%. This data directly relates to the progress, or lack thereof, towards increasing the share of renewable energy in the transport sector.

• Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

  The article highlights that transport is the largest end-user of energy in the EU (32% of final energy consumption). This high consumption level underscores the need for greater energy efficiency in transport systems to meet this target.

• Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

  The data showing that road transport consumes 73% of energy while rail transport consumes only 1% implies that the current transport system is not balanced or sustainable. A heavy reliance on individual road transport over collective, more efficient systems like rail runs counter to the goal of creating sustainable transport systems.

• Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

  The article’s breakdown of energy sources in road transport, with gas/diesel oil (64%) and motor gasoline (26%) dominating, points directly to the high consumption of finite fossil fuel resources. This highlights the challenge in achieving sustainable management of these resources as outlined in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.

  The article explicitly provides data for this indicator within the road transport sub-sector. It states the share of “renewables and biofuels (7%)” and “electricity (0.5%)” in the final energy consumption of road transport.

• Indicator related to Energy Intensity (Implied for Target 7.3)

  The article provides the total final energy consumption for transport in petajoules (PJ) and its share of the EU’s total final energy consumption (32%). This figure is a key component of Indicator 7.3.1 (Energy intensity), as it represents the energy use that would be measured against economic output (like GDP) to determine efficiency.

• Indicator related to Modal Split of Transport (Implied for Target 11.2)

  The article provides a clear breakdown of energy consumption by transport mode: “Road transport… 73%”, “Air transport… 13%”, “water transport… 12%”, and “rail transport… 1%”. This modal split serves as a powerful proxy indicator for the sustainability of the transport system. A low share for public and efficient transport like rail suggests a lack of progress towards sustainable transport systems.

• Indicator related to Fossil Fuel Consumption (Implied for Target 12.2)

  The article quantifies the consumption of specific fossil fuels in road transport, stating that “gas/diesel oil… was the main source of energy… with a 64% share” and “Motor gasoline… followed at 26%”. These figures can be used to track progress on Indicator 12.2.2 (Domestic material consumption), as these fuels are a key component of material resource use.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: ec.europa.eu