What will ministers order from climate panel’s menu of CO2 cuts?

The Government can – and should – do far more to cut transport CO2 emissions, says the Committee on Climate Change. But will its messages on ‘smarter choices’, speed limits, road pricing and electric cars be politically acceptable?

Andrew Forster

23 October 2009

The Committee predicts that car traffic will fall if its ‘extended ambition’ scenario (its preferred strategy) is implemented. The reduction relies on the intensive application of ‘smarter choice’ measures and land use planning policies. (NB The graph data appears to be UK car traffic although the report cites Transport Statistics Great Britain. The growth shown for 2007-2009 seems to run counter to the report text which suggests the recession has already reduced traffic levels)

The Committee wants investment in ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ electric vehicle charging points

The UK’s transport carbon dioxide emissions could be cut by a quarter in the next decade according to a new report from the Government’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The size of cuts is far greater than the Government’s own target for the transport sector, prompting questions about just how practical the Committee’s recommendations will prove to be in terms of political acceptability, affordability and institutional buy-in.

This is the Committee’s first...