Report suggests Government must improve understanding of effects of transport policies on CO2 emissions
Wed 08 February 2006
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A new report commissioned by Transport 2000 concludes that the Department for Transport does not appear to have a clear picture of the effects of their policies and programmes on CO2 emissions.
It criticises the DfT for failing to take seriously the responsibility imposed by the PSA requirement on climate change. It calls for policies and proposals that provide alternatives to road widening and road building and for the adoption of those based on the ‘Smarter Choices’ initiative.
The report, by Steer Davies Gleave for Transport 2000 (also supported by FoE, Sustrans, RSPB and Roadblock), says that the total cost of CO2 emissions from transport will cause environmental damage to the economic value of £30.9bn in 2025.
The authors criticise the Department for Transport for failing to develop a more robust and transparent approach to the monitoring of the carbon effects of policies and proposals, particularly the Highways Agency’s TPI. They call for more positive steps to be introduced to better understand the consequences of road policies and programmes on CO2 emissions.
In order to more directly focus DfT’s attention on climate change targets, the report calls for consideration to be given to a transport-specific target for the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Related Links
Report - download link
Financial Times story link
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