Integrated fuel strategy needed to drive low-carbon transport policy

The Government must give air pollution the same level of priority as tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions when devising transport policy, according to a new industry blueprint.


The blueprint, drawn up by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) supplier Autogas Ltd and trade association UKLPG, sets out a number of recommendations for the Government including the replacement of individual fuel strategies with an integrated approach supporting options such as LPG which, with 1400 filling sites in the UK, could provide an immediate benefit to the air pollution problem.

The document also warns that a lack of standardisation and collaboration between business departments has compromised the UK transport sector’s ability to reach its carbon reduction goals.

UKLPG chief executive Rob Shuttleworth said: “The blueprint is the industry’s commitment to maximise the support given by Treasury to a 10-year fuel duty trajectory for LPG.

“However, fuel duty for gaseous fuels on its own does not go far enough to truly make an impact on carbon and air pollution from road transport. A clear objective must be a cross departmental cohesive approach to road transport policy that correctly incorporates UK road transport supply chains and infrastructure.”

Funding competition

Yesterday (14 October), the Government announced that it would be putting the first £11m funding available into a competition – ‘Adapting cutting-edge technologies’ – opened recently by Innovate UK, increasing the total funding available to £15m.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: “As part of our long-term economic plan, investments like this will make sure that Britain is the leading light of the automotive industry – developing green technologies and creating thousands of new jobs across the country.”

Earlier this year Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg declared that £500m would be used to promote ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in the UK, including £100m to fund further industry-led research to support the growth of the sector.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “By 2040 we expect virtually all new cars and vans to be using carbon-cutting technology and we want to see as much of this as possible designed and built here, in the UK, delivering economic as well as environmental benefits.”

Lois Vallely

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