Climate change and cars in the EU: the roles of auto firms, consumers, and policy in responding to global environmental change

Abstract

Car design, ownership and usage are major determinants of the degree of carbon emissions produced from personal transport. We assess factors influencing environmental innovation in the automotive sector and behavioural changes of transport consumers in response to climate change and related policies. This analysis highlights the vital role of policy drivers in both supply-side innovation and demand-side change and considers the efficacy of recent European Union policy measures. We argue that the limited progress towards low-carbon transport suggests a need for more interdisciplinary analyses of mobility and greater attention to psychological, cultural and infrastructural factors affecting demand.