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Foe backs rac's road-charging call
17 May 2002
But says no to more roads
Friends of the Earth has backed today’s call from the RAC Foundation for road charging “to prevent worse congestion”. The environmental campaign organisation says that money raised should be invested in alternatives to the car - not on new roads.
Roger Higman, Transport Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"At long last the motoring lobby is beginning to realise that urgent steps are needed to curb car-use. We support the RAC’s call for congestion-charging - but not its demand for more roads. New roads are part of the problem, not the solution. They wreck the countryside and encourage more cars, more pollution and eventually, more congestion. The Government must ensure that alternatives to the car are attractive, affordable and available.”
The RAC’s report also says that by 2050 pollution from traffic will be minimal because of new technology. Friends of the Earth says this will only be
possible if far greater provision is made for renewable sources of power. Otherwise the pollution from ‘cleaner cars’ will simply be generated elsewhere. Current Government targets for renewable power are too low.
Roger Higman continued:
"Cleaner vehicles are urgently needed and the RAC is right to call for them. But new technology won't prevent pollution unless the energy comes from
renewable sources like the wind, waves and sun. The Government must urgently review its targets for renewable energy to make sure clean power sources are available for new vehicles".
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
