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Think tank’s Environmental Justice Commission calls for
more focus on clean affordable alternatives to EVs including
free local public transport
On the day the government announces its transport decarbonisation
plan, the IPPR think tank sets out an alternative vision for
transport as part of a blueprint for a fair transition to net
zero, informed by public consultation across the country.
The landmark cross-party Environmental Justice Commission final
report calls for upgrades to local public transport, and for it
to be made free to all users throughout the UK by 2030, with free
bus travel by 2025 as a first step.
Luke Murphy, head of the IPPR Environmental Justice
Commission, responding to advance release of some elements of the
government's transport decarbonisation plan, said:
"The government's proposals to phase out the sale of new
diesel and petrol heavy goods vehicles are welcome, as is the
consultation on a potential industry mandate for zero emission
vehicles.
"However, though we await the detail, there appears to be
little additional funding to support the switch to more
affordable and clean transport alternatives to cut overall car
use. This would be a missed opportunity to put in place a new
approach to how we all travel, with solutions benefiting
wellbeing, health and environment.
“We need to massively expand the provision of and
affordability of clean public transport options, such as trains, buses
and trams, while helping more people to regularly walk and cycle,
alongside a shift to electric vehicles for those that need them.
We also need to see a firm commitment from the government to
review the £27 billion roads programme, including schemes that
are currently planned as well as future ones.
"The Environmental Justice Commission's report, out today,
calls for a significant step-change in investment to upgrade
local public transport and make it free to all users throughout
the UK by 2030, with free bus travel by 2025 as a first
step."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The commission’s report, Fairness and Opportunity: A
people-powered plan for the green transition, says that the
UK is failing to ensure that the costs and benefits of the
transition to net zero will be fairly shared. It also says the
government has no coherent plan to make the most of the
opportunities presented by this fundamental change in the
country’s economic model. The report is available at: https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/fairness-and-opportunity
