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SEI Executive Director Måns Nilsson contributed to the Freedom of Mobility Forum live debate with high-level panelists from India, Europe and the U.S. The debate was covered by 22 global media outlets including The Detroit News, The Telegraph and other media sources in the U.S.
Biogas plant, Czech Republic. Photo: Abadonian / Getty Images Plus.
With the kind of regulatory approach that the EU is taking, they are virtually removing the possibility to use biogas.
Måns Nilsson, Executive Director, SEI
“They cannot separate properly between fossil carbon emissions and carbon emissions that are part of a natural cycle. So, I am afraid that policymakers are providing too narrow frames and excluding options for transport that might very well have enormous synergies for societies, both in terms of affordability and mitigating climate change,” Nilsson continued.
Other panellists suggested societies need to de-emphasize automobiles altogether.
Carlos Tavares, CEO at Stellantis, however, did lament the lack of flexibility many regulations offer by emphasizing electric vehicles (EVs): “Our societies are losing a lot of great potential by not having a technology-neutral regulations. This is a big, big loss of creativity of scientific power that we are deciding upfront by imposing one single technology instead of having a technology-neutral regulation that would create healthy competition.”
“Examples include synthetic fuels as well as biogas, which could also help to address disposal of solid and agriculture waste and power transportation like minibuses,” said SEI Executive Director Måns Nilsson.
Examples include synthetic fuels as well as biogas, which could help to address disposal of solid and agriculture waste and power transportation like minibuses.
Måns Nilsson, Executive Director, SEI
Tavares expressed confidence that Stellantis will be able to meet its goals set in its 2030 strategy and that holdups in the European Union to ban the sale of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035 will not affect its trajectory. Stellantis plans for 100% of its sales in Europe and 50% in the United States to be all-electric by the end of the decade.
The comments came during the Freedom of Mobility Forum, a platform the automaker created alongside its decision to leave the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and to change its approach to public affairs and lobbying.
Freedom of Mobility Forum organized by Stellantis.
The wide-ranging, two-hour conversation among six panellists was moderated by Celia Edwards. The panel included:
The hope through the forum is that the debate from views around the world will help to inform and influence public opinion to which lawmakers are subject. And based on the engagement of the inaugural event, stakeholders involved will determine the best ways to disseminate the facts, challenges and solutions discussed.
The conversation sought to answer the question: In a decarbonized world, will freedom of mobility be affordable to a happy few only?
Perspective / This perspective highlights three major solutions to address the challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable transport users in African cities.
Project / Accelerating low carbon transport policies and plans that meet the mobility needs of marginalized groups in Indonesia.
Project / The project studies the challenge of reaching fossil-fuel-free freight transport in the Swedish forest sector.
Initiative / This initiative investigates how rapidly growing cities affect residents' wellbeing and how this interacts with the overall health of city systems.
Feature / Road transport accounting for 90% of all transport emissions in Sweden. Electrification is a viable alternative for reducing emissions.
Feature / In cities, congestion increases automobile emissions, which ultimately degrades ambient air quality.
Past event / This event gathers decision-makers and analysts from policy, business and research across Europe to debate the key sustainability issues at stake for EU policy.
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