Traffic jams and mediocre air quality are usual suspects in Brussels. In fact, car traffic is one of the biggest problems faced by sustainable development in the Brussels Region. While the debate regarding use of cars in the city is important, noise and pollution caused by goods vehicles is mentioned much less often. In spite of that, freight transport is responsible for 25% of Co2 emissions, 22% of PM2.5 emissions and up to 41% of PM10 emissions. Another interesting fact: today, freight vehicles represent 14% of traffic entering and leaving the capital region, a majority of which are vans.
This study carried out by Philippe Lebeau and Cathy Macharis from the VUB and published in the e-journal Brussels Study analyses the sector’s dynamics and possible solutions to improve the sustainability of delivery operations. The paper puts logistics in Brussels at the core of the road traffic issue.
