'Insufficient': CCC warns Grayling and Clark green transport strategy is still stuck in the slow lane

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has warned Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Business Secretary Greg Clark that their plan for decarbonising road transport is not ambitious enough to meet legally binding climate targets.

In a letter dated October 11 setting out the Committee's detailed analysis of the government's 'Road to Zero' transport plan, CCC chair Lord Deben said the strategy is "insufficient" to drive the emissions cuts needed under the fifth carbon budget.

Transport is the UK's largest emitting sector, responsible for around 28 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions last year. Moreover, emissions from the sector are rising, despite the fact rapid cuts will be needed to keep the UK on track to meet its legally binding climate goals.

The 'Road to Zero' strategy, the government's plan to address the issue, was released this summer bringing together a raft of previously announced and new policies designed to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and incentivise more businesses to switch to ultra-low emission car models.

But echoing criticism from campaigners, the CCC has concluded the government's plan do not follow the most cost-effective path towards cutting emissions across the sector. Deben urged the government to now "implement policies with greater ambition" to accelerate progress.

He also criticised the Department for Transport for publishing recent forecasts developed using the National Transport Model, which almost completely ignores the ambitions of the 'Road to Zero' strategy.

"Almost all scenarios failed to include the policies and ambitions in Road to Zero, resulting in levels of electric vehicle uptake that fall short of the targets required to deliver the commitments in the Climate Change Act," Deben pointed out. "Scenarios that support delivery of the legislated carbon budgets should be used as central planning assumptions."

"Overall, our assessment of existing and newly agreed policies for road transport is that they are insufficient to ensure the reductions in emissions necessary to meet the fifth Carbon Budget in the most cost-effective way," he added.

The CCC said the government should bring forward its stated goal to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2040 to 2035 to help speed up the rollout of electric vehicles and ensure transport emissions are near zero by 2050.

It also recommended a minimum electric range for hybrid cars should be put in place, to make sure most journeys are completed when the car is in zero emission mode.

And subsidies for electric cars will be needed beyond 2020, the CCC warned, pushing back against reported ministerial plans to make large cuts to the EV subsidies programme at this year's November budget.

The CCC also said the government must address long waiting times and supply issues affecting EVs, set "stretching" emissions targets for new cars, and do more to support the rollout of a reliable, nationwide charging network.