Archived press release

Transport Emissions Rise

22 July 2004

Greenhouse gas emissions from transport have risen by 47 per cent since 1990, new figures released by the Office of National Statistics reveal, showing the failure of successive governments to tackle the problems caused by road transport. Friends of the Earth warned today that evidence suggests that this problem will only get worse, with plans published just this week, which will allow further traffic growth.

The figures show that emissions from UK transport industries fell slightly from 2000 while emissions from UK households' private vehicles rose by six per cent [2]. Total greenhouse gas emissions from all forms of road transport rose to 125.3 million tonnes in 2002, and now represent 18 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Transport emissions from aviation fell slightly, due to a decrease in flights following the September 11^th attacks.

The UK Government is currently committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010, but the figures published today show overall emissions fell by just 10 per cent. A Government transport white paper, published this week, recognised that traffic levels in the UK would continue to grow - and promised no immediate action to tackle this [3].

The Government's commitment to tackling emissions from transport was further undermined by the Chancellor's decision on Tuesday to postpone the proposed fuel tax rise, despite an acknowledgement that measures affecting the cost of fuel were one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing transport emissions.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

"These figures reflect the sorry state of this Government's policy on transport and climate change. Despite fine words and promises, they are failing to take the action needed to seriously tackle greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change means disaster for millions of people around the world, but our Government is happy to let people carry on increasing pollution by getting in their cars."

Notes

[1] www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=901

[2] UK transport industries were responsible for emitting the equivalent of 86.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2002, compared with 88.3 million tonnes in 2000 and 58.5 million tonnes in 1990. Greenhouse gas emissions from UK households' private vehicles were 59.2 million tonnes in 1990 and 62.8 million tonnes in 2002, a rise of 6 per cent in the level.

[3] www.dft.gov.uk/strategy/futureoftransport/

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust