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Call for greener transport policies in damning report

Aug 7 2006

Commenting on the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee's report on reducing carbon emissions from transport, published today (Monday 7 August), Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

"This is a damning report on the Government's failure to tackle climate change through its transport policies. Emissions from transport are still rising and forecasts suggest they will carry on rising for years to come. The Department for Transport's has already shown it has a poor track record and current plans give little hope for change in the future.

"Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander must make tackling climate change his top priority. This needs a root-and-branch review of transport policy, starting with plans for airport expansion and road building. Tinkering around the edges is no longer enough to tackle the greatest threat the world faces"

Among the Committee's recommendations are that the Government should:

• make public transport use more affordable compared to cars (para 26)
• introduce £300 gaps between VED (road tax) bandings (para 52)
• take measures to curb the amount that people drive (para 63)
• seriously reconsider the case for annual increases in fuel duty (para 71)
• make clear that road user charging will be used to tackle climate change as well as congestion (para 77)
• properly enforce or lower the 70mph speed limit on motorways (para 82)
• more stringently appraise road building proposals compared to lower carbon alternatives such as public transport improvements and demand management measures (para 89)
• fundamentally rethink its airport expansion policy (para 113)
• consider alternatives to emissions trading for tackling carbon emissions from aviation (para 125)
• raise Air Passenger Duty (para 130)
• increase taxes on domestic flights (para 132)

Friends of the Earth is calling for new legislation to force all government departments to make tackling climate change an aim of their policies, with a commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent year on year - see www.thebigask.com .

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