Government transport plans irresponsible and short sighted.
'RUTH KELLY's policy of large-scale road building and even greater
aviation capacity is on a collision course with the UK's climate
change targets.'
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas MEP today criticised
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly's response to the Eddington Review of
Transport and the Stern Review into the Economics of Climate Change.
'Towards a Sustainable Transport System, Supporting Economic Growth
in a Low Carbon World' sets out the Department for Transport's policy
and investment plans for the period to 2013-14.
Caroline said:
"Today's paper is aiming for the wrong result, starts with the wrong
base-line, and so comes to the wrong conclusions.
"Kelly makes no bones about the Department for Transport's number one
goal - maximising economic competitiveness, whilst curbing our
emissions comes a poor second.
"The government propose spending a staggering £1.3 billion a year on
targeted increases in road capacity - with 23 schemes under
construction now, and a further six underway next year. They also
endorse further aviation expansion. (1)
"Irresponsible and short sighted, pouring yet more money into old-
fashioned and carbon intensive modes of transport will guarantee our
emissions continue to rise. Kelly's policy of large-scale road
building and even greater aviation capacity is on a collision course
with the UK's climate change targets.
"We need to get away from the idea that soaring pollution and an ever-
rising number of cars on the road and planes in the sky are a symbol
of economic prosperity.
"The answer to the spiralling misery of transport is not more of the
same thing. If the government wants to really tackle the UK's
transport problems and curb our rising carbon emissions, they need to
radically reform our transport and planning infrastructure.
"We need to stop building in the need for travel in our everyday
lives, rather than just try and make our journey times quicker.
Increased mobility is part of the problem, not the solution.
"By ensuring that people have access to facilities for shopping, work
and leisure nearer to their homes we can improve accessibility but
reduce mobility - reducing the overall amount of transport that is
required.
"There is no shortage of ideas for a more sustainable transport
system. What is lacking is the political will to achieve it.
"By encouraging localisation, the current need for long-distance
transport - the key source of emissions - could be tackled."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1) Please see point 29 page 13 of 'Towards a Sustainable Transport
System, Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon World, available at: