Roadmap sets out urgent actions needed to deliver net zero transport and transform UK’s industrial future
Thu 05 December 2024
View all news
- Successful transport transition central to UK Plc’s economic prospects
- Policy developments urgently needed to enable delivery
- Unprecedented cross-sector collaboration needed to avoid future, damaging policy turbulence
Zemo Partnership today publishes a Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport which sets out the interventions required across key policy areas to bring forward investment in zero emission technologies and low carbon fuels and promote low carbon travel choices.
The Roadmap is the culmination of well over a year of consultation by the non-profit Partnership with the widest range of stakeholders in road transport’s decarbonisation transition.
The Roadmap takes an economy-wide, whole-systems approach to making net zero transport happen, encompassing policies on upgrading the electricity grid, enhancing the UK’s skills base and opening up green finance.
The commitment to increase the UK’s target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions to 81% by 2035 (vs 1990 levels) is ambitious but currently unmatched by the domestic policies necessary to achieve the target.
This enhanced target demands even greater urgency in delivering emissions reductions from road transport. The sector will need to be virtually carbon free by 2050.
New policies to address the barriers to rapid transport decarbonisation are required. The Roadmap points to the areas where these policy interventions are most urgently needed. These include measures to:
- Accelerate the rollout of electric vehicles by working with the private sector to identify how many and what types of chargers are needed and where, and ensure fairness in VAT rates for charging.
- Decarbonise the existing fleet with a package of measures to boost production and demand for low carbon fuels.
- Encourage low carbon travel choices by providing greater support and information on walking, cycling, public transport, car clubs and lift sharing.
- Direct policy and funding to close skills gaps and speed up reskilling and upskilling by reforming the Apprenticeship Levy and introducing a new skills passport.
- Unlock green finance by improving lenders’ perceptions of risk and facilitating the use of lower risk financing options
The Council for Net Zero Transport, established by Zemo Partnership last June, provides independent strategic guidance to Zemo and complements the work of Partnership members.
Council for Net Zero Transport Chair, the Rt Hon Lord Deben said: “Addressing transport emissions is a critical part of tackling the existential threat of climate change.”
“The transport transition is a multi-faceted and complex challenge which is why we need to bring people with the widest range of perspectives together and to harness the power of key organisations with the agency and resources to deliver the necessary changes.”
“The publication of this Roadmap is a necessary step in defining a vision around which we can coalesce and move forward.”
Zemo Partnership (formerly Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) is a not-for-profit, impartial organisation, using a rigorous evidence-based approach to challenges. It’s unique in convening the widest range of stakeholders in the transport transition to advise on the way forward. Around 200 organisations are represented, including all sections of the motor and energy industries, consumer, academic & environmental organisations, road user groups and others.
Zemo’s Managing Director, Claire Haigh, said: “Policy changes and uncertainty are damaging and will slow down the transition. We need to coalesce around a shared vision of the future and, together, agree the finer details of policies to avoid future, unhelpful turbulence.
“The publication of the Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport is a key staging post in a process that has brought together so many experts who are amongst our membership.
“This is not an end-point, but a key reference on which we will build; to develop the finer details of the policies necessary to accelerate transport’s transition.”
The Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport builds on the publication of a report offering guidance to the new Government, which set seven key principles to inform policy on delivering net zero transport.
TO DOWNLOAD THE DELIVERY ROADMAP REPORT CLICK HERE.
Other stakeholder comments:
Dhara Vyas, CEO, Energy UK: “With the UK's zero-emission vehicle targets at risk, it is encouraging to see this report urging the Government to address critical policy gaps across both the transport and energy sectors. Clear, decisive action is needed to provide clarity for businesses, investors, and consumers and, in turn, support Britain’s climate goals, strengthen energy security and deliver low-carbon and affordable transportation for all consumers.”
Ben Cattermole, Head of Transport Decarbonisation, NGED, National Grid: “National Grid Electricity Distribution supports development of a roadmap to Net Zero Transport. Transport is a critical sector in the transition. We look forward to engaging on the roadmap as it develops”
Colin Walker, Head of Transport, Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit: “The EV transition is critical for both the UK’s net zero ambitions and its economy. A rapid transition to building the EVs that our major export markets will increasingly demand, will mean that UK car industry economic output could increase by 35% and 167,000 new jobs could be created. Fail, and output could collapse by 73% - or £34bn - and over 400,000 jobs could be lost. Far from being a threat to the UK’s car industry, electric vehicles are vital for its future”. (Reference: CBI Economics report link)
Cllr Adam Hug, transport spokesperson, Local Government Association: “Business, industry, local and central government need to work together to help people make the right choices for them and the environment, by creating better incentives to carbon intensive travel which are cheaper and give people freedom of choice in how they travel”.
Tony Campbell, CEO, Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA): “I welcome Zemo's Delivery Roadmap, it underscores the importance of a multi-path approach to net zero, emphasising the critical role of mopeds, motorcycles and other powered light vehicles.
“I particularly support its call for an L-Category user licensing review before 2026. Simplifying licensing is essential to increasing adoption of efficient personal mobility, encouraging a shift away from congestion-inducing cars and vans."
Related Documents
Related Links
< Back to news list