Report outlines measures to cut transport's contribution to climate change
Fri 28 November 2008
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A new report says that transport's contribution to climate changing emissions could be cut by a quarter by 2020. The proposals include policies to promote behavioural change, legislation, planning and other forms of incentivisation.
The research was conducted by the consultancy Metropolitan Transport Reserch Unit (MTRU) and co-sponsored by the Campaign for Better Transport. It recommends a comprehensive package of transport policies that could reduce UK transport emissions by 26% by 2020 from 2006 levels.
The research comes as the Climate Change Bill passes into law and the Committee on Climate Change prepares to release its proposal for UK carbon budgets up to 2022. The Campaign for Better Transport says that transport is likely to be a key target as it accounts for 28% of UK carbon dioxide emissions and, with growing road traffic and flights, its contribution is expected to increase.
Current government policies, including intensive improvements to vehicle efficiency, are expected to achieve less than 5% reduction in CO2 by 2020. The research sets out a package of measures which taken together will:
Cut overall CO2 emissions from transport by 26% by 2020 on 2006 figures
Cut passenger travel emissions by 32%
Cut freight emissions by up to19%
Make cars 25% more fuel efficient
Cut car traffic by 15%
Cut domestic aviation emissions by 30%
MTRU director and report author Keith Buchan said: "The package in the report is not just about tackling climate change; it would help put the UK economy on a more secure long-term path to recovery. The credit crunch has been far worse because warnings were ignored and the opportunity for early, less painful, action was missed. We should learn the lesson and act early to avoid a climate crunch."
The transport sector reductions identified would be in line with requirements set out the UK Climate Change Bill which requires the UK to achieve 80% reduction in emissions by 2050.
This report is Phase Two of a two-year project on transport and climate change. Phase One considered a range of background issues, including the effectiveness of promoting biofuels or offsetting emissions, whether Government created markets in permits to pollute can make a significant contribution, and if so their social and moral implications.
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