- Net-zero push also needs government investment in green
vehicles and public transport revamp
Decarbonising the journeys of commuters in England will be vital
if the country is to hit net-zero targets –
and businesses should take more responsibility for cutting their
employees’ emissions, says the CBI.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, commuter journeys accounted
for 15% of all trips and 20% of total travel distance in the UK –
totalling 18 billion kg of CO2 emissions per year. Even
with travel patterns evolving in the wake of the pandemic,
commuting emissions will need to be radically reduced for the UK
to achieve its environmental ambitions.
A new report from the CBI and KPMG – Greener
Miles: Delivering on a net-zero vision for commuting – has
proposed a series of recommendations designed to cut
travel emissions ahead of the government’s upcoming Transport
Decarbonisation Plan.
Key among them is a call for businesses
to shoulder greater responsibility for ensuring their workers
adopt greener travel habits.
At a time when many firms are reconsidering their future working
models, the CBI is encouraging businesses to
incorporate staff commuting into their net-zero strategies. The
report suggests this can be achieved in a number of ways, from
incentivising public transport use and promoting active travel
options, to supporting the delivery of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure.
However, it is also incumbent upon government to lay the
foundations for business to act. That will mean revamping public
transport networks to reflect shifting working patterns and
demand for different ticketing models,
while accelerating rollout of low-emission vehicles.
CBI recommendations include details for a bold plan for
government support for operators to enable the UK to meet its
ambition of 4,000 new zero emission buses by the end of the
parliament. The recommendations also push for government to
commit to publishing a national EV infrastructure delivery plan
by the end of the year.
Both government and business will then have a role to play in
influencing behaviours by rebuilding public confidence in shared
transport and driving long-term shifts towards more active
transport.
In tandem, these measures can help build momentum around the
shift to a decarbonised economy ahead of COP26 in November, where
clean transport will be a core theme.
Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director at the CBI,
said:
“If the UK is to meet its obligations to reach net-zero emissions
by 2050, decarbonisation of commuting will be vital. However,
this will require not only significant public and private
investment in infrastructure and technology, but also a shift in
business and employee behaviours to match.
“A key change will be for businesses to now take greater
responsibility for their employees’ commutes. They should factor
these emissions into their net-zero strategies and set out
tangible steps to help their teams make greener journeys.
“Collaboration between business and government can be a catalyst
for achieving this. This summer, as more and more businesses
nationwide begin to look beyond the challenges of COVID and plan
a return to on-site work, firms have an unprecedented opportunity
to work with government at all levels to provide their staff with
a menu of low emissions travel options.
“This will be critical, not only for meeting the UK’s net-zero
commitment, but for society’s health, wellbeing and
productivity both in the short-term as the economy reopens, and
in the decades to come.”
Richard Threlfall, Global Head of Infrastructure at KPMG,
said:
“As COVID-19 restrictions start to ease, employees are
reconsidering where they work and how they commute – giving
employers a unique window of opportunity to reduce the impact of
these journeys on the environment.
“But to bring about real, lasting change in employee behaviour,
businesses and government need to work together and invest in a
range of affordable, accessible travel options and new technology
to reduce emissions. This type of investment will also help the
economy’s recovery, better connect communities and provide more
opportunities for levelling up across the country.
“And with the clock ticking on the UK’s commitment to achieve
net-zero emissions by 2050, now is the time to put words into
action and deliver green commuting.”
30 April 2021
Notes to Editors:
- Referenced data on journey numbers and emission volumes is
drawn from Department of Transport’s National Travel Survey
(2019) and research by Mobilityways (2020). Source links can be
found in report appendix.
- A full copy of Greener Miles: Delivering on a net-zero
vision for commuting is attached.
