News that average global temperatures in January were 1.75 degrees centigrade above the pre-industrial average, and that January was the 18th of the last 19 months to exceed the ‘safe’ threshold of 1.5 degrees centigrade above that average, gives us another clear reminder about what the decarbonisation agenda is all about.
Not surprisingly, scientists are calling on all national governments – almost none of which are meeting Paris-agreed targets for decarbonisation – to raise their games and accelerate the transition to net-zero.
Zemo Partnership’s remit is to help speed the move to net-zero road transport in the UK. Responsible for nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, transport is now the UK’s largest emitting sector.
Speaking at the recent Confederation of Passenger Transport conference, Minister for Local Transport Simon Lightwood said that coaches and buses are central to decarbonising the economy and are a key part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.
Mr Lightwood promised to reverse “the cycle of decline,” noting that the number of people travelling by bus has fallen since 2010.
It is a pity, perhaps, that his colleague, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was not listening more closely to the minister when it came to her recent much-touted ‘growth speech’.
Aside from general suggestions about improving transport links, there was little in her address for coaches and buses. Hopefully, she is saving the big announcements for the spending review that will conclude in the spring!
Zemo’s recently published Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport in the UK talks about the need for action in the coach and bus sector with proposals to build on the impressive progress to date.
It calls for clarity, particularly on the end-of-sales date for new non-zero-emission buses, as well as investigation of whether regulation, such as the zero-emission vehicle mandate for cars, is required.
The report also points to a need for creation of a long-term funding mechanism for zero-emission buses by reforming BSOG to support the business case for purchasing them without grant funding.
Of course, there is also a call for support to enable the UK’s zero-emission coach sector to reach its potential, as well as for progress in helping people to make more informed travel choices.
To provide more fully-evidenced detail into the policy process at this critical time – in terms of the stage we are at in the policy development cycle, as well as the growing urgency of the climate challenge – Zemo has been commissioned by the European Climate Foundation to further develop ideas introduced in the Delivery Roadmap.
This new project will prepare a Map of Missing Policies to identify the most significant gaps in policy of the four UK nations and it will make proposals for addressing them as soon as possible.
All Zemo members will have opportunities to provide input to the project, which will publish recommendations in the spring. Proposals will be developed with a grassroots input and could cover any areas across the spectrum of road transport.
If you are already a member of Zemo, keep a look out for the opportunities to participate that are coming soon. If you are not yet a member, there is still time to sign up and get involved. Visit Zemo’s website for more information.
