With this alliance, the foundation continues to make headway with its mobility transformation activities to reach zero emissions, also including freight transportation.
ECODES, Ecology and Development Foundation, has joined the “Freight belongs on rail” campaign in its efforts to get behind the transformation of the transport sector as it moves towards sustainable mobility and low or zero emissions. This synergy strengthens an initiative that seeks to give greater prominence to rail in bringing about a decarbonised logistics chain.
To this end, the project aims to raise awareness among public institutions, the private sector, and society in general regarding the importance of moving a considerable part of freight transport to a more environmentally friendly model, such as rail. This could reduce emissions in a sector that is responsible for around 29% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Spain.
This support from ECODES provides continuity for the work being done to combat climate change by this pioneering organisation. Regarding rail transport, one standout is its participation in the “Europe on Rail” project since 2020. This seeks to boost the revival of rail transport in Europe, by promoting policies and concrete measures. It has also taken part in “More train travel, less emissions”, in which fourteen organisations proposed approaches to double the demand for rail travel in Spain, among other initiatives.
Cristian Quílez, project manager at ECODES, points out that “we are doing our bit to promote rail transport for sustainability, efficiency, territorial cohesion and a decarbonised future. Following the celebration of the European Year of Rail in 2021 (where little was done) and the recent European Commission’s “Efficient and Green Mobility” package, Spain needs to prioritise this freight and passenger transport system within the framework of recovery funds and the future Sustainable Mobility Law. We support this initiative because it provides an important impetus for achieving objectives and fulfilling commitments. The lines should not be closed, but instead made to serve society and the economy”.
A well-supported campaign
“Freight belongs on rail” is a European movement that was first launched in Germany and the United Kingdom and has now reached Spain. After its first stop in Valencia and Alicante, as well as the Rail Live fair in Madrid, it will continue touring other regions.
The campaign has been well received by companies and institutions that see trains as the solution to decarbonise transport. They want to make a much-needed proposal a reality, in line with their environmental commitments; that is to take care of the environment where they operate, by designing an intermodal supply chain that is neutral in emissions, while calling on society to be a part of that change.
This has been pushed forward by the DB Cargo rail company, Transfesa Logistics (its subsidiary in Spain), along with Renfe Mercancías, Ermewa, Medway, Port of Valencia, Stadler Valencia, Adif, Anecooc, the City of Valencia, AM FRESH Group, the European Parliament, the Spanish Railways Foundation, the Generalitat Valenciana Ministry of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, Martinavarro, Logitren, Low Cost Rail, Railsider Logistics, Rail Live, SanLucar, The Climate Reality Project Europe, Tobsine Spain SL, VTG, Port of Alicante, ECODES and TMS.