Zemo Partnership has published a new report warning that the UK’s transition to net-zero transport is at risk of stalling without policy intervention.
The report, Decarbonising UK Road Transport: Map of Missing Policies, was unveiled today at a Parliamentary Roundtable event in Westminster attended by cross-party MPs, Lords, and members of the Transport and Business and Trade Committees.
The report is the culmination of a consultation process with Zemo’s membership, alongside senior industry and academic stakeholders. It is backed by the European Climate Foundation and builds on the organisation’s Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport published in December 2024.
Zemo’s latest analysis identifies specific recommendations across five road transport subsectors: Passenger cars, commercial vehicles, vans, coaches, and buses.
Targeted proposals for the coach sector include:
- A realistic end-of-sale date for new non-zero-emission coaches as the first step in a broader zero emission coach strategy
- An initiative for the coach sector modelled on the Zero-Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme (ZEHID) to identify the most suitable technologies for coach operations and trial opportunities for innovation
- The use of grant or other funding to support the growth of the zero-emission coach market, once more models of coach are available to purchase.
For the bus sector, Zemo calls for:
- Phased introduction of a higher basic Bus Service Operators Grant for electric buses, simultaneously tapered for existing diesel models until 2032
- A new capital funding stream to ensure the distribution of infrastructure funding to smaller operators
- Restrictions on the purchase of new diesel buses by attaching conditions to O-Licences, requiring operators to transition to zero-emission vehicles within a specific timeframe.
Author of the report, and Zemo’s Head of Public Affairs, Neil Stockley, says: “The UK’s road transport landscape is changing dramatically in a short time-frame. It’s vitally important that policy development keeps pace with this changing landscape to help ensure that the UK’s net zero transport industry continues to thrive and can contribute as much as possible to the UK’s economy and future prospects.
“I’d like to thank the many industry leaders and associated experts who have contributed their time and energy to helping Zemo complete this important work.”
Adds Zemo Acting Managing Director, Jonathan Murray (pictured): “UK transport’s transition to net-zero is well under way, though progress is uneven across the sector. There are still many specific hurdles that these policy prescriptions seek to address as we accelerate into the delivery phase of transport decarbonisation.
“What gives these policy prescriptions relevance and legitimacy is the fact that they have been scrutinised by such a wide cross-section of industry and academic experts, many of them Zemo Partnership members.”
