Sector commentators have welcomed the Government’s move to legislate for the UK to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but this will require significant changes to transport policy, they say.
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Prime Minister Theresa May revealed plans to eradicate the UK’s net contribution to climate change last week and laid before Parliament legislation to implement this, which will involve an amendment to the Climate Change Act.
In response, Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive Darren Shirley said: “The Government’s existing transport policy must rapidly change to meet the scale of the transformation necessary to deliver net zero emissions for 2050.
“A major shift to sustainable transport with growth in the use of public transport, cycling and walking is now needed.” He also called on the Government to bring forward to 2030 the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles alongside further measures to grow the electric vehicle market.
Urban Transport Group director Jonathan Bray described the decision to legislate for net zero emissions as a “watershed moment” in efforts to tackle climate change.
“Investing in the right transport policies is absolutely key to decarbonising our city regions and achieving this net zero goal,” he said. “The Government’s Spending Review offers an immediate opportunity to set a course for the net zero transition.” In particular he called for longer term, stable funding for urban transport to allow authorities to put in place decarbonisation plans, and a new funding deal for the bus sector.
A spokesman for Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport also welcomed the Government’s 2050 ambition but said: “The target must be reinforced by robust Government policies across all sectors – including transport, energy, housing, waste, and the environment – and requires a strong response from business, industry and society as a whole.
“In meeting the net zero target, as always, the devil will be in the detail.”
National Infrastructure Commission chair Sir John Armitt said: “Protecting the UK’s economy and environment from the impacts of climate change is probably one of the biggest challenges we face in the decades ahead. We cannot do this without first putting in place the infrastructure we need to change how we travel.”
He highlighted the Commission’s National Infrastructure Assessment which sets out among other decarbonisation measures proposals to support a switch to electric vehicles.
Sir John added: “This autumn’s National Infrastructure Strategy must be unambiguously bold in using the Assessment to set a clear and achievable path to ensure the UK becomes a low carbon nation.”
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement Transport Secretary Chris Grayling set out in Parliament some of his Department’s plans to help meet the net zero aim, including a package of measures to upgrade railway technology, introduction of hydrogen trains and a clean maritime plan.
Within transport, key plans include expanding Ireland’s network of cycling paths and park and ride facilities, and encouraging the take up of 950,000 electric vehicles by delivering a nationwide charging network and legislating to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
(Photograph: Lana Elcova – Shutterstock)
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