Although energy consumption in the goods logistics sector is increasing significantly, it has until now been largely absent from spatial and local planning. With a mix of various measures, however, it would even be possible to achieve a CO2-free supply system for cities.
The results of the NRP Energy point towards the large and, above all, rising share of energy consumption accounted for by logistics processes. Accordingly, both companies as well as administrative bodies and private households are called upon to make a contribution to more energy-efficient logistics.
In the past, the significance of this mobility area was underestimated and in the sphere of public administration hardly any resources have been created to date that serve to address this issue. On the contrary: regional developments in urban areas are increasingly leading to the squeezing out of central trans-shipment centres to peripheral locations and thus to longer supply routes with greater energy consumption. Furthermore, concerns about the energy-efficient provision of supplies to the population are generally still being ignored within the framework of new area developments based on comprehensive test plans that see the establishment of dense residential zones. Here, it is not least the stakeholders at state level who have failed.
The main message that comes out of the relevant NRP project is positive, however. The vision of energy-efficient and CO2-free urban freight logistics is by no means utopian and can certainly be realised by 2050 with a mix of various measures. This is on condition that the political will to do so exists. The private stakeholders in the logistics industry are absolutely willing to change their behaviour – this was also made clear in the project. In return, they want reliable regulations that allow for long-term investment planning for new infrastructure and updated business modelsRapp Trans AG, Interface Politikstudien Forschung Beratung (2018): Smart urban freight logistics. How we supply the towns of tomorrow – with energy efficiency and CO2-free..
