Abstract

The Western Balkans is home to the most polluting power plants in Europe, and its transport and energy infrastructure require updates. Not surprisingly, countries such as Kosovo, are suffering from severe urban air pollution and traffic congestion as a result of high dependence on fossil fuels in the energy matrix, inefficient transport system and aging vehicle fleets. These substantially harm public health, productivity and efficiency in urban mobility. Kosovo is implementing the EU enacted Stabilization Tracking Mechanism programme, aiming to gradually integrate its national policies on legal, economic and social matters with the EU. On 6 February 2018, the European Commission published its expansion plan to cover up to six Western Balkan countries including Kosovo with potential accession as members of the EU after 2025. This is relevant for vehicle emissions as it entails implementation of EU vehicle emission and fuel standards. The development objective of this project is to support the government of Kosovo and City of Pristina to develop strategies to reduce emissions and pollutions from transport perspective, such as modernization and better management of public and private vehicle fleets, and to scope for components and activities to be considered as part of potential Develop Policy Financing or Investment Project Financing by the World Bank The layout of the report includes the following sections: Chapter second realizes a rapid assessment of vehicle pollution for Kosovo including vehicle emission trends. Chapter third list in a summarized manner major instruments to reduce transportation emissions. Based on the problem and solution description policies are selected which are assessed in further detail to curb vehicle emissions in Kosovo. These policies or interventions were selected based on on-going plans and activities and interest from the Government. They include usage of low-emission buses (chapter fourth), fiscal instruments to promote low-emitting vehicles (chapter fifth) and implementation of in-service vehicle emission testing.

Abstract

The article considers the role of the transportation system in the sustainable development of cities. The article pays special attention to the development dynamics of road transport in Russia and of the emissions of air pollutants by motor vehicles. The role and significance of fuel taxes in the system of government revenue are investigated. The author analyzes the existing system of fuel taxes in the Russian Federation and concludes that the mechanism of taxing motor fuel is based on consumption and does not take into account the adverse impact on the environment and the energy content of fuels. The author provides arguments for changing the mechanism of calculating the rate of the excise tax on motor fuel so that it factors in its energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions. A conclusion is drawn that the introduction of the proposed adjustments would produce a substantial fiscal impact on government revenues and would make it possible to eliminate the existing distortions for two competing sources of energy (petrol versus diesel fuel); would encourage the use and development of public transport and help reduce the emissions of air pollutants. The objective of the study is to work out proposals for improving fuel taxation that would also contribute to the sustainable development of cities. © 2018 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved. The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, contract No. 17-22-21001.