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More roads, more aviation, more carbon emissions

30th Oct 2007

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:

www.dft.gov.uk