Climate change
Transport is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2010, transport accounted for 21% of the UK’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions and 26% of total greenhouse gas emissions when international shipping and aviation were included.
Greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
The Climate Change Act (2008) established a long-term framework and target to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%, or relative to 1990 levels, by 2050.
Meeting the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
The Department is responsible for transport’s contribution to the Government’s carbon plan.
This plan presents Government’s vision and programme of actions to move the UK to a low carbon future in order to meet the Climate Change Act targets.
The Government’s carbon plan sets out the Department’s plans to cut transport’s carbon emissions. Some of the key transport actions from the Government’s carbon plan include:
- providing up to £400m funding for the development and deployment of ultra-low emission vehicles, through consumer incentives, support for recharging infrastructure and research, development and demonstration
- creating the new £560m Local Sustainable Travel Fund to support delivering of local transport projects that promote economic growth and cut carbon emissions
- bringing forward the electrification of the North Trans-Pennine route from Manchester to York via Leeds, which will deliver significant carbon savings as well as reliability and journey time benefits
- going ahead with a third round of the Green Bus Fund, under which a further £20m is being made available for the purchase of around 250 low carbon emission buses
- putting a total of £8 million into in low emission HGVs and their supporting infrastructure
The Department is committed to ensuring that the transport sector plays a significant part in helping to deliver the emission reductions needed to meet these targets.
Reducing aviation and shipping greenhouse gas emissions
International aviation and shipping emissions are not currently included in the UK’s 2050 Climate Change Act target. Global solutions are the most effective way to tackle emissions in international sectors like these. As such, the Department is working through the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the EU to secure global agreements for these sectors. The Government will consider options for the inclusion of these emissions in the UK’s climate change targets.
