Environmental costs are often ”externalized”, and mainly or non-governmental organizations press
on local communities to invest for landscape improvement. The current logistics sector is rather
reluctant to radical innovations, and is dominated by a conservative approach to the ”green” strategy.
Biofuels is a key technical issue. Second generation biofuels are not based on crops, but on
different natural materials, like cellulose from forest residues or energy forests. These have a higher
energy yield per hectare than other crops and are therefore preferable. Currently there are research
activities focused on gasifying biomass to syngas (CO and H2) which in the next step of the Fischer -
Tropsch process. Result is different kinds of hydrocarbons, e.g., synthetic diesel (F-T diesel) or petrol,
methanol or methane, and process was successfully experimented in Poland for coal. The challenge is
to develop a process that is robust enough to work efficiently also on more complex raw materials like
biomass that contains material that can obstruct the combustion process (e.g. sulphur). Production of
combustibles from biomass exists today in research phases in many countries. Also as pilot plant is
produced hydrogen, used solar cells, thermal or wind energy and other forms of renewable energy.
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme/ System (ETS) is a major pillar of EU climate
policy. The EU ETS currently monitor and annually report their carbon dioxide emissions, covers
more than 10,000 installations (trading ”credits” from the national allowance plans). The European
Union approach is really innovative, taking into account to reduce SOx, NOx and CO2 emissions at
the same time (minus 40% reduction below 1990 emissions levels, by December 2020), and prop
production of biofuels, natural gas, hydrogen. Also proposed energy conservation measures, not only
because of the limited amount of natural resources available, but also because it can reduce noxious
emissions and decelerate global warming.
Last United Nations Climate Summit (May 2009, Copenhagen) adopted, even unanimously,
actions” to reduce CO2 emissions. In order to avoid climate change to global level, all nations decided
to militate for zero-carbon societies.