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Mike Salter EEDA's Head of Transport Planning

Crucial evidence on transport carbon footprint published

16 November 2009

Crucial evidence published today on transport’s carbon footprint in the East of England will inform future policy development on how the region can start to tackle climate change now.

The innovative study from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is the first of its kind in the UK and was undertaken by transport experts Atkins in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen.

The East of England Transport and Carbon Study (TraCS) identifies the carbon emissions from transport in the East of England and how this will change over the next 20 years.

The study importantly puts forward options for reducing carbon emissions from transport and identifies three scenarios on how implementing a low carbon transport system would impact on the regional economy.

The results from the TraCS study indicate that the growth in carbon emissions from transport are forecast to increase by 35% between now and 2031 and will come primarily from the growing use of private vehicles.

The regional economic strategy has a clear headline target for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of 60% by 2031 (compared to 1990 levels).  To combat the growth in carbon emissions the TraCS study has identified a number of specific options,  such as better access to low carbon fuels, improvements to public transport, safer walking and cycling routes, restrictions to speed and possible road pricing structures.  

Mike Salter, Head of Transport Planning at EEDA, said:

“This crucial economic evidence will provide invaluable analysis for the choices we have to make as a region to tackle climate change. 

“We need to implement solutions that help both regional businesses to grow as well as reducing carbon emissions. 

“Transport is part of a bigger picture and we will now work with partners to gather further evidence on the contribution of other sectors to the region’s carbon footprint and how we can reduce emissions and achieve the overall targets.”

The results will now be used to help regional partners such as: local authorities, Highways Agency, transport operators and businesses, manage the environmental and economic impacts of the ambitious growth planned.

Atkins project director Andy Southern said: “The East of England has ambitious targets for half a million new dwellings and 450,000 new jobs across a 20-year period. This work has considered the impacts of this on the transport system and how transport investment can maximise the sustainability of this growth.”

“As part of the project, Atkins considered the carbon emissions from all transport modes, and applied the government’s methodology on Wider Economic Benefits to measure impacts on business productivity and gross-value added growth.”

Mike added:

“We have already shown that the cost of transport congestion in the region could double to £2 billion a year by 2021 if nothing is done.  The East of England Transport and Carbon Study is additional important economic evidence to help decision-makers in the region plan economic growth sustainably.”

The full report is available to download at www.eeda.org.uk/transport

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