The Environmental Strategy for Transport highlights four environmental problems in which transport plays a part and which are considered especially challenging. The selection of these was based on two criteria: the role of transport in the particular environmental problem, and the extent to which the environmental problem is worsening or improving. The issues selected are matters in which the role of transport is especially significant and in which the problem is becoming more serious.

Aviation has been included in the EU’s CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme since the start of 2012. As an exception to other modes of transport, the local environmental effects of airports and air traffic are dealt with on a case by case basis within the environmental permit process under the Environmental Protection Act. This therefore affects the way aviation is covered in the Environmental Strategy for Transport.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications’ environmental policy is to be implemented as part of its long-term transport policy. The Environmental Strategy for Transport and the environmental programmes/systems of the organisations within the Ministry’s administrative sector provide clarification of the details of the work and also act as an aid to understanding the bigger picture.