Transport
currently makes up 21 per cent of all UK domestic carbon
emissions. The strategy entitled 'Low carbon transport: a
greener future' sets out the policies and proposals for
reducing transport sector emissions through to 2022.
It also frames the debate for the longer-term decarbonisation
of transport to give people and businesses more low carbon choices
about when, where and how to travel or transport goods.
Andrew Adonis said:
"Transport accounts for a significant amount of our
domestic emissions. Therefore decarbonising this sector has to be
front and centre of efforts to meet our obligations and
commitments to tackle climate change.
“Our strategy sets out a long-term vision for a fundamentally
different transport system in our country, where carbon reduction
is a central consideration in the way we do business.
"If we are to safeguard the future of transport then
we must also safeguard the environment that it impacts upon – I am
determined to do that."
Today's strategy sets out how an additional 85
million tonnes of CO2 from domestic transport can be saved from
2018-2022 by: supporting a shift to new technologies and fuels;
promoting lower carbon choices; and using market mechanisms to
encourage the shift to lower carbon transport.
Key elements in the strategy include:
A new steering group for the freight and logistics industry to
find effective ways of measuring, reporting and reducing emissions
across the logistics sector;
A commitment to work with European partners to develop a robust
mechanism for regulating CO2 from new vans, including clear
targets for the medium and long-term and a mechanism to encourage
the development of the ultra-low carbon van market whilst
respecting the diversity of the van market;
Proposed eligibility criteria for the £2-5,000 consumer
incentives for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, expected to apply
from 2011. This includes the requirement for the vehicle to have
maximum tailpipe emissions of 75g CO2/km. An update has also been
published on the infrastructure framework which is supporting this
scheme.
This publication builds on ongoing initiatives to reduce carbon
emissions from transport and is part of a wider government
comprehensive plan for decarbonising the UK and maximising the
economic benefits presented by low carbon industries.
'Low carbon transport: a greener future' can
be found here www.dft.gov.uk/carbonreduction
The policy actions as outlined in 'Low carbon
transport: a greener future' mean domestic transport
emissions are forecast to be around 14% lower by 2020 compared to
2008.
'Carbon' is used here as a measure of all
greenhouse gases, converted into an equivalent amount of CO2,
based on global warming potential.
This strategy builds on ongoing initiatives including:
agreement in December 2008 to a demanding framework with our
European partners for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from new
cars - expected to save 7 million tonnes of CO2 in the UK by 2020;
reduce CO2 emissions from UK aviation to below 2005 levels by
2050 and challenging the aviation industry to innovate and adopt
better fuel efficiency;
securing international agreement to reducing CO2 emissions from
aviation and shipping, a key priority for the UN talks in
Copenhagen at the end of this year;
setting out in April the way to create a flourishing market for
ultra-low emissions vehicles in the UK for both consumers and
industry - through a £100m combination of support for research and
development, and £250m for consumer incentives and funding for
electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
announcing in May that large urban areas across England are
being given the chance to bid in a £29m competition to become the
country’s first Sustainable Travel City;
in June announcing further measures to advance new, greener
technology on our roads. Up to 150 low emission and all-electric
vans will be introduced to public sector fleets; a £25m programme
delivered by the Technology Strategy Board will see over 340
ultra-low emissions vehicles demonstrated around the UK;
A £30m scheme to encourage uptake of low emission buses;
£5m programme to radically improve cycle facilities at our
railway stations;
Substantial investment in public transport, for example through
transformational projects such as the £16 billion Crossrail scheme
and the £8.9 billion West Coast Mainline upgrade;
New guidance will be issued shortly to local and regional
government as they begin to develop new local transport plans and
longer-term transport solutions to emphasise the importance of
addressing CO2 form transport.
‘Review of Low Carbon Technologies for Heavy Goods Vehicles’ can
be found here
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/lowcarbontechnologies/.
It identifies which technologies have the greatest carbon saving
potential for HGV operations.
‘Ultra-low carbon cars: Next steps on delivering the £250
million consumer incentive programme for electric and plug-in
hybrid cars’ can be found here
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/technology/lowcarbonelecvehicles/
The Low Carbon Logistics Transport Supply Chain steering group
will be chaired by the DfT and initial membership includes those
organisations who represent the freight and logistics customer:
the Freight Transport Association, the Chartered Institute of
Logistics and the Food Storage and Distribution Federation. The
group will also include advisory members, such as the Carbon
Trust. As work develops, membership will be extended to involve
those organisations with sectoral interests.
Press Enquires: 020 7944 3066
Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292 Public
Enquiries: 020 7944 8300 Department for
Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/