Transport Scotland has published a new report from the low carbon
consultancy Element Energy on decarbonising the transport sector.
The report provides an independent assessment of what policy
outcomes are required in order for the transport sector to make
the transition to net zero.
The report is clear that transformational change in individual
and business behaviour and travel choices will be required
alongside the pursuit of continued technological innovation. At
the same time, the report is guided by the principle of a just
transition, meaning that everyone has a role to play and no one
can be left behind in the fair transition to a net zero society.
The proposed recommendations contained within the report reflect
that approach. Key highlights include:
- A clear message that substantial behaviour change is required
on car travel, irrespective of whether cars are electric or
otherwise, underpinning the Scottish Government’s commitment to
reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030.
- Findings which align with the government policy in areas such
as ending the sale of fossil fuel cars and vans by 2030,
decarbonising the rail network by 2035, and ending the sale of
fossil fuel heavy vehicles by 2035.
- Tensions in policy approaches, such as aviation, where the
report concludes a significant reduction in demand is needed.
- A recommendation that vehicle demand caused by the decreasing
cost of electric fuels must be mitigated through policy, such as
road user charging; that around 25% of freight goods must be
moved by road must be shifted to rail and ships by 2030; and
ending the sale of fossil fuel powered ships with retrofitting of
existing ship powertrains from the early to mid-2030s.
Transport Minister provided a
statement Scottish Parliament on the publication of the report
and updated on what the Scottish Government is already doing to
support a shift to active, sustainable and low carbon transport.
Mr Dey said:
“The Programme for Government sets out how we will take Scotland
on a green transport revolution and in a way delivers a fairer
and healthier Scotland. The report we have commissioned from
Element Energy sets out what that future could look like, and
what policy outcomes are required to support that vision.
“Technology offers us many solutions, and we’re making good
progress, but the report is clear that transformational change in
travel behaviour is required. The role of government, therefore,
is to make sustainable travel choices easier, and our Programme
for Government commitments support just that.
“Scotland has made a world-leading commitment to reduce car
kilometres travelled nationally by 20% by 2030. We’re supporting
this through free bus travel for under 22’s, over half a billion
pounds in bus priority infrastructure and a near tripling of the
active travel budget to 10% of what we spend on transport by the
end of this parliament. Later this year, we will publish a
route-map outlining further measures to achieve this reduction
target, assuming the COVID-19 pandemic has moved to a phase to
allow this.
“We are aware that we need disincentivise car use to encourage
people to make more sustainable choices. But the most direct
levers here – fuel duty and vehicle excise duty – are reserved.
So the UK Government must play its part and use all the levers
and powers it has to support us in this endeavour.
“With COP26 just over a month away, this report makes clear the
scale of the challenge ahead of us. We are committed to cutting
emissions in transport at an unprecedented pace, and transforming
how we all get around in the future.”
The full publication by Element Energy can be accessed on the
Transport Scotland
website.
