The UK government
has announced a Transport Decarbonisation Plan that would
see all forms of domestic transport achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a target for
some modes two decades earlier.
The plan introduces
a target date of 2040 for net-zero domestic aviation emissions and 2050 for the
domestic rail network. The government will also phase out new diesel and petrol
heavy goods vehicles by 2040.
It has already announced
that no new petrol and diesel cars will be sold after 2030 and hybrids will be
phased out by 2035.
Transport secretary
Grant Shapps said that the plan had “the potential to support tens of thousands
of jobs worth up to £9.7 billion GVA in 2050. This will also ensure the air we
breathe is cleaner in our communities, and reduce time spent in traffic.”
Shapps said: “Transport is not
just how you get around. It is something that fundamentally shapes our towns,
cities, and countryside, our living standards and our health. It can shape all
those things for good, or for bad. Decarbonisation is not just some
technocratic process. It’s about how we make sure that transport shapes quality
of life and the economy in ways that are good.”
Emma Gilthorpe, COO of Heathrow
and CEO of the Jet Zero Council, said “I welcome the leadership from
Government in committing to a target of net zero emissions from aviation by
2050, and recognising that the aviation industry is committed to delivering on
this too. We look forward to working with Government to translate this
ambition to action and deliver a future where people can continue to enjoy
the benefits of air travel – without worrying about their impact on the environment”.
Elizabeth de Jong, director of policy
at Logistics UK, said: “Rail, shipping and aviation are
all essential parts of logistics, so plans to support freight modal shift and
develop technologies to reduce emissions across these modes are welcome.”
BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney
said: “We welcome the publication of these plans, which provides a clearer
picture of where we are and where we need to get to on the road to net zero. BVRLA
members will play a vital role in this journey, enabling millions of
individuals and businesses to embrace zero emission road transport and switch
to more sustainable forms of mobility."
The Government has
also pledged to make its entire fleet of 40,000 cars and vans zero emission by
2027, three years earlier than previously planned.