LowCVP expert survey - Government must do more to deliver low carbon road transport
Mon 08 June 2009
View all news
Government must do more to lead the transition to low carbon transport a survey of diverse experts from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has concluded.
The LowCVP – a partnership including over 300 leading organisations – conducted a wide-ranging survey of the opinions of its member representatives; experts on the subject of low carbon transport. Organisations surveyed were from the motor and fuels industry, government, academia, road user and environment groups. 99 organisations responded with just over half from automotive or fuel supplying companies.
The full results of the LowCVP stakeholder survey are being announced today at the LowCVP Conference at City Hall, London where the Mayor, Boris Johnson, and the Secretary of State for Transport, are speakers.
Key findings of the survey are:
Government does not give enough priority to reducing transport emissions and is falling behind leading nations
Only a minority (16%) believe the Government is giving sufficient priority to low carbon transport issues, compared to 72% who disagree. (In a similar survey in 2007, 26% felt sufficient priority was given.) Only 4% believe the UK is a ‘global leader’, and 15% see the UK as a leader in Europe. In contrast, the majority believe that the UK is either an ‘average performer’ (49%) or lagging behind other countries (31%).
The UK Government ranked relatively well, however, in terms of the contribution made so far to cutting road transport emissions compared to other stakeholders with only the European Government being seen to do more.
Experts want to see a clear target for road transport emissions
90% of respondents favour the Government setting a specific sectoral target for carbon emissions from UK road transport as part of its carbon budgets to be prepared in response to Climate Change Act.
Most experts (52%) also believe the car industry will meet their target of 130g/km by 2015, although nearly a third (32%) think it will be missed. However, looking forward to 2020, the experts want more stretching targets. 84% support a target of at least 95g/km with over half proposing a level of 90g/km or lower.
Opinion on biofuels is divided, but there is general agreement that Government was right to slow down the rate of their introduction
Views on the value of biofuels are divided. 50% think that biofuels make a net positive contribution to tackling climate change, compared to 28% who disagree and 22% who are undecided. In spite of the well publicised concerns about biofuels, expert opinion has become only slightly more guarded among experts since 2007 when 56% were supportive.
Two thirds (65%) of respondents said that the Government was right to slow down the introduction of biofuels following the Gallagher Review.
Government support for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is justified – but Government should not pick technology winners
Just over half (57%) believe that the current focus on support for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is justified.
However, low carbon experts are concerned that Government should not try to ‘pick winners’. 61% of the experts responding to the survey believe the role of Government is to specify the aim but not the means for emissions reductions. A quarter supports Government adopting a “technology portfolio” which it backs. Policies to reduce new car CO2 emissions were seen as the top priority.
The content of car advertising should be more strictly regulated to encourage pro-environment choices
74% of the respondents agree or strongly agree that the content of car advertising should be more strictly regulated to more actively inform and encourage the purchase of low carbon vehicles. 83% think an environment label for used cars, similar to the new car fuel economy label, should be introduced.
Greg Archer, the LowCVP Managing Director, commented: “This survey of LowCVP members shows the need for Government to adopt a more strategic approach to reducing transport emissions.
“The new Government should look again at defining clear targets for greenhouse gas reductions from major sectors like road transport to complement their overall objectives.”
Commenting upon the promotion of Lord Andrew Adonis to Secretary of State for Transport, Greg Archer added: “Since he joined the Department for Transport, Lord Adonis has shown himself to be committed to decarbonising transport and has actively sought out the views of diverse stakeholders to ensure he obtains first-hand knowledge of the issues. The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership looks forward to working closely with him in his new role.”
For the full press release and full survey results, please follow the associated links.
Related Links
< Back to news list