This work discusses the rapidly developing European transport policy on sustainable freight and the connected efforts initiated by the European Commission (EC) on greening transport by the means of contract law. Greening transport has been a central goal for the EU for decades. The main problem has been, and still is, that far too much carriage of goods within the EU is performed unimodally: by road carriage alone. This has caused severe problems particularly in central Europe, where both trade and environment is suffering from an ineffective transport industry with growing problems of congestion and pollution. A modal shift in transport from mainly road based to a form of transport in which more environmental friendly modes such as rail, inland waterways and sea born transport are integrated into one transport chain, is hence an objective of the EU. If successful, this model could then be extended to the international transport community. The key question raised in this book is whether the traditional role of contract law is changing to such an extent that the parties involved must take external interests into account. In the case of the EU's efforts to enhance sustainable carriage of goods within its realm, the author explores whether governmental interference is necessary, or if we can trust that the parties will integrate environmental issues into their contracts because there is a demand for such clauses. The different proposals for an EU regime on multimodal contracts of carriage are discussed in this context. This book will be of great relevance to academics and practitioners with an interest in EU law, transport law, environmental law and maritime law in general.

This topical book examines the issues surrounding climate change and sustainability in relation to the freight transport sector. Written by an interdisciplinary team of contributors, the book approaches the topic from a multitude of perspectives, demonstrating that the sector will need to undergo significant changes in order to meet climate change targets. In addition to examining the challenges facing the transport sector, chapters also offer practical suggestions as to how the sector can achieve the required transformation. Legal methods are considered along with the application of new technologies and the implementation of alternative incentive structures as ways to promote sustainability and reduce emissions. Featuring contributions from leading authors from logistics, business, law and sustainability backgrounds, Sustainable and Efficient Transport demonstrates that a more integrated approach is needed at an EU level, to bring about the paradigm shift required for reducing transport emissions and making the sector more sustainable. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers working in both sustainability and transport. Lawyers, industry professionals and policy-makers will also benefit from insights in to the effectiveness of current policies and alternative solutions to contemporary challenges.

This work discusses the rapidly developing European transport policy on sustainable freight and the connected efforts initiated by the European Commission (EC) on greening transport by the means of contract law. Greening transport has been a central goal for the EU for decades. The main problem has been, and still is, that far too much carriage of goods within the EU is performed unimodally: by road carriage alone. This has caused severe problems particularly in central Europe, where both trade and environment is suffering from an ineffective transport industry with growing problems of congestion and pollution. A modal shift in transport from mainly road based to a form of transport in which more environmental friendly modes such as rail, inland waterways and sea born transport are integrated into one transport chain, is hence an objective of the EU. If successful, this model could then be extended to the international transport community. The key question raised in this book is whether the traditional role of contract law is changing to such an extent that the parties involved must take external interests into account. In the case of the EU's efforts to enhance sustainable carriage of goods within its realm, the author explores whether governmental interference is necessary, or if we can trust that the parties will integrate environmental issues into their contracts because there is a demand for such clauses. The different proposals for an EU regime on multimodal contracts of carriage are discussed in this context. This book will be of great relevance to academics and practitioners with an interest in EU law, transport law, environmental law and maritime law in general.