General readers

The resources here are specifically designed for general readers.

Briefings
Booklets
Factsheets
Reports

Briefings

Fuel tax and climate change: why the Government should stand firm
(PDF† 37K ) March 2008
Fuel tax is due to go up by 2 pence per litre in April. Groups representing hauliers and motorists are calling on the Government to abandon the proposed rise, saying it will damage the haulage industry and the wider economy. This briefing explains why Friends of the Earth believes the Government should stand firm.

Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change
(PDF† 25K) Sepember 2007
Friends of the Earth opposes any new nuclear power stations in the UK and globally - this briefing note explains why.

50 climate top tips
(PDF†) April 2007
50 ideas for how you can reduce your own personal greenhouse gas emissions.

Tackling Climate Change through the planning system
(PDF† 132K) April 2007
Looking at the Government's new planning policy on climate change.

Nuclear power, climate change, and the energy review
(PDF† 511K) April 2006
Industry lobbyists, media commentators and even Tony Blair are calling for a new nuclear programme to help meet our energy needs - but is this really the way forward? This briefing looks at the contribution nuclear power could make and possible alternatives available.

Road Pricing
(PDF† 91K) August 2005
The Government have recently announced proposals for a national road-user charging scheme to reduce congestion - but will it work? And what will it do to tackle climate change?

Aviation and the Economy
(PDF†) May 2005
Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to climate change. The industry claims that the economic impacts of implementing the necessary measures to address this growth outweigh the ecological benefits. This briefing analyses these claims and shows the flaws in the aviation industry's arguments.

M6 Expessway: another dead end road?
(PDF† 97K) October 2004
Explains the Government's M6 Expressway toll proposal, and why the issue is important across the UK, not just in the Midlands and North West.

Oil prices, fuel tax and climate change
(PDF†) June 2004
Looks at the current and future problems associated with our dependance on oil (including high oil prices and climate change) - and offers some solutions and alternatives.

Booklets

Renewable energy: Your questions answered
(PDF† 698K) October 2008
This booklet describes the mix of renewable energy technologies that can take us to our 2020 targets and beyond

Energy and Climate Change
(PDF†) August 2008
This booklet gives you more information about climate change, and provides ideas about what you and your family can do to help tackle the issue.

Wind Power: Your questions answered
(PDF† 668K) August 2008
This booklet answers some common questions about wind power and puts in perspective the arguments often used to oppose wind developments.

Transport: The Way To Go
(PDF† 924K) April 2005
A 16-page colour booklet providing a straightforward introduction to the environmental impacts of transport and sound advice on how to make a difference. For details of how to order this free resource, go to our Publications page.

Factsheets

Why Travelling By Rail Is Better For The Environment
(PDF† 64K) October 2001
This factsheet provides 10 key facts that demonstrate why moving people and goods by rail has less environmental impact than other modes of motorised transport. Good reason for our railways to be at the heart of an environmentally sustainable UK transport system.

Reports

Paying for Better Transport: Costing the 'Way to Go' Manifesto
(PDF† 294K) May 2004
The Way to Go campaign was launched in February by a coalition of over 25 environment, transport and social justice organisations. These groups want to see a transport system that is better for people, for local neighbourhoods and for the environment. This report looks at the cost of delivering the measures identified in the Way to Go manifesto based on current best practice both from Britain and the rest of Europe. It also identifies the benefits this would deliver; possible sources of funding and which groups in society would benefit the most from implementing these policies.
Summary of the report
(PDF† 266K) May 2004

Better buses, safer streets for Longsight
(PDF† 1.4MB) September 2003.
Highlights the transport, traffic and safety concerns of the Longsight community in Manchester. Summary in Bangla and Urdu.

Environmental Justice - Mapping transport and social exclusion in Bradford
(PDF† 630K) October 2001.
Summary report
(PDF† 95K) October 2001.
Transport problems exacerbate social exclusion in a number of ways. Air pollution, noise and accidents are concentrated in poorer areas. A poor public transport system denies many people easy access to essential service like hospitals, shops and schools - which is more of a problem for poorer people, as they are less likely to have the alternative of using a car. This report maps these transport-social exclusion links in the District of Bradford, and suggests how they can be overcome.

Broken promises
(PDF† 310K) June 1999.
This report exposes the tactics used by Europe's main airports to gain government approval for their constant expansion demands and how promises to communities have been broken time and time again.

Less Traffic, More Jobs: The direct employment impacts of developing a sustainable transport system in the UK
(PDF† 194K) May 1997.
Policies to promote car alternatives could lead to the creation of 130,000 new jobs by 2010, which would more than offset the loss of jobs in the motor industry as a result of decreasing car use.

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