Environmental information systems for passenger and freight transport users

To assess how individual consumers can factor environmental concerns into personal transport decisions, this report first reviews the environmental information currently available to them. There is a parallel review of the environmental data at hand to freight shippers. The report discusses the main choices affecting the environmental impact of passenger and freight transport and the information available today, identifying current data gaps and outlining the most promising means of addressing them. This leads to recommendations on four specific environmental information systems:

1. choice of mode of passenger transport (e.g. car, train or bicycle);
2. secondhand car purchase (catalytic converter, fuel type, etc.);
3. maintenance of passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles (materials, impact on emissions and fuel consumption);
4. choice of mode of freight transport (e.g. road, rail or waterway).