The roll-out of LEZs, the end of the sale of combustion-powered vehicles, the installation of electric charging stations throughout the country… In 2023, the Drive to Zero programme focused mainly on these three major issues. Over the past year, the entire ecosystem has gradually taken shape, and while there is still work to be done, 2024 will bring new challenges for the players in the sector.
- Acceptability
- The industrial and technological dimension
- Governance and financing
These three themes will be at the heart of the programme at Drive To Zero. In a few weeks’ time, the exhibition dedicated to low-carbon mobility will be back for its second edition, providing an opportunity to take stock, debate and work together to tackle these major challenges that are at the heart of today’s world.
Challenge number 1 : Acceptability
The need to transform our social models cannot be understood without taking into account the social dimension and the realities of people’s daily lives. A few figures to give you an idea of the scale of the issue:
It is estimated that 75% of everyday journeys are made by road using the private car. Although expensive and restrictive, the car remains the preferred means of transport for the French, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, where it is estimated that 85% of residents deplore the lack of alternatives.
For how many of our uses is the car really indispensable?
While there is a collective awareness of the urgency of climate change, individual acceptance is taking longer. How can we speed things up without generating frustration and opposition? How can we achieve a fair and equitable transition?
Against a backdrop of accelerating environmental rules and standards, support is an essential factor in managing change.
Challenge number 2 : The industrial and digital dimension
If we are to achieve low-carbon mobility, we need to accelerate the pace of change. Technological change in modes of transport and infrastructure in a short space of time is a major competitive lever, and innovation must now be an integral part of the strategy.
The digitisation and automation of rail transport, the development of electric recharging, the challenges of relocating industries in Europe (particularly the battery industry), connected multimodal mobility… The energy, electricity and technology revolutions are underway, and the challenge for European industry is to remain competitive in a world of open competition.
The efforts currently being made by manufacturers to integrate these changes must be accompanied by support policies designed to ensure that these sectors remain competitive.
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Challenge number 3 : The question of funding
Infrastructure development is expensive, and the “investment wall” already mentioned by stakeholders is expected to be breached in the near future. The question of funding is at the heart of the debate. How much commitment and effort can each party make to meet the climate imperative?
At a time when the pace is increasing, it is imperative to reconcile everyone’s efforts and to envisage collective governance of the transitions. Public and private players must move forward together to meet the climate imperative. Not forgetting civil society, which is largely affected and which must also play its part in decision-making.
New organisational models need to emerge to plan and finance the change.
To support the transformation and debate these issues, Drive To Zero is offering a number of conferences and workshops. Lucile Schmid, co-founder of La Fabrique Ecologique, François Gemenne, member of the Giec, Xavier Horent, Managing Director of Mobilians, Fabrice Bonnifet, President of C3D & Sustainable Development Director of the Bouyges Group, Murielle Fabre, Secretary General of the Association des maires de France (AMF)… They will all be present to discuss these current issues and will be meeting around four major themes:
- People mobility
- Mobility of goods and industry
- Energy and infrastructure
- Services & institutional environment
Thanks to Drive to Zero, a forum for reflection and action on a European scale, all the players in the sector, both private and public, will be converging towards a single objective: to meet the challenge of low-carbon mobility.
Find out more about the programme for Drive to Zero
See you on 28 and 29 May at the Hippodrome de Paris Longchamp.
