According to figures published by Statistics Flanders on Wednesday, the environmental impact of transport in Flanders is estimated to have fallen by 7% between 2013 and 2024. The decline is primarily due to reduced air pollution.
The MITRANS index is calculated to map the total impact of transport and transport infrastructure on people, the environment, and nature. This index comprises five main effects: nuisance, biodiversity & habitat, air pollution, climate change, and material use. Each of the five aspects carries equal weight (20%). The index includes all transport modes and infrastructure, except walking and cycling.
Five main effects
The environmental impact fluctuated considerably in recent years: it increased (+4.5%) between 2013 and 2019, but dropped sharply (-8.6%) during the coronavirus crisis, due to the crisis and associated measures, such as the lockdown and mandatory remote work. With the easing of coronavirus measures and the economic recovery in 2021, a slight increase was once again observed in air pollution (+4%) and climate change (+7%).
Between 2013 and 2019, the impact of four of the five main effects increased. Nuisance and material use, in particular, rose by 24% and 22%, respectively. Biodiversity and habitat remained virtually unchanged throughout the entire period (-1.4%). Only air pollution consistently declined between 2013 and 2024 (-27%).
Over the period from 2013 to 2024, all main effects – except air pollution – show slight year-to-year fluctuations. Air pollution, by contrast, has seen a sustained decline since 2013, with a 49% reduction.
Public health gain
One explanation for this is the progressive shift from polluting diesel cars to less-polluting gasoline engines, and the rising popularity of electric driving. However, this effect remains limited for the time being due to the still relatively low share of electric vehicles in the total vehicle fleet.
The reduction in air pollution is a meaningful public health gain. However, it should not be confused with a corresponding improvement in all environmental dimensions of transport.
The fundamental conclusion is therefore mixed: vehicles and fuels have become much cleaner with respect to conventional air pollutants, but Flanders has not yet achieved a similarly consistent improvement in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, or noise.
