Factors for success or failure of transport‘s environmental indicators – The case of TERM

Abstract

Concerns over the unsustainability of European transport patterns and trends are nowadays not only advocated by environmentalists, or critical academics. They have become embedded in the self-reflexive management and monitoring systems of contemporary governance also at European level. Indicator systems are designed to measure transport systems and policies in terms of their economic, social and environmental performance. Also, methods to undertake ex-ante review of potential impacts are mandated at strategic as well as project level. But does it all matter? Do decision support systems such as the European Environment Agency (EEA)’s TERM indicators (TERM = Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism) provide real safeguards against unsustanability? Are their foundations solid? Do have a genuine impact on actual decisions? Do they install the necessary element of reflexivity in the right context? In other words: How can it be ensured that monitoring and assessment results enter, support and influence the actual policy processes?