Lord Larry Whitty, vice-president of Transport 2000, gave a presentation on the Government’s energy review.
He said the review made little mention of transport but Aviation could be included in the European Union carbon trading scheme. The review assumes emissions from transport will continue to rise until 2020 before levelling off and we are still nowhere near a transport and environment agenda. Reliance on carbon dioxide reduction from production of electricity is the main objective of the review.
He said there was a need to lobby the Department for Transport on carbon dioxide emissions and the recent vehicle excise duty increases for high-emission vehicles (Chelsea tractors) was nowhere near enough.
Road charging should be structured to encourage low-emission vehicles and it was no longer the political hot potato it used to be. Measures to increase use of bio fuels from 5% to 10% could be achieved through fiscal measures.
Lord Whitty said aviation expansion is still on the Government’s agenda and the only measure to control it was the European Union carbon trading scheme which is a long off. There was a need for European governments to contain aviation by putting a brake on airport expansion. Although cheap flights are popular there was a groundswell of public opinion that something had to be done.
High-speed rail could reduce the need for short haul flights and investment in rail should become an objective.
The meeting went on to discuss a review of Core TAR activities in 2005-06. It was suggested that energy policy should be included under climate change in the coming year but that climate change should continue to to be a prime campaign issue.
It was suggested a working group on transport & climate change should be formed. Stephen Joseph has been in discussion with Professor Phil Goodwin on the effect of sustained rising costs of fuel on transport.
Stephen said the Transport Innovations Fund was likely to generate public opposition and Core TAR needed to be ready with counter arguments.
Comprehensive Spending Review: A working party will submit a paper on what needs to be done to address climate change on issues where the Treasury is very week.
An update to the 2004 “Way to Go” campaign was discussed and several new items were suggested for a working group to take forward.
It was agreed to have a session on the benefits of high speed rail and I was asked to do a short paper on this.
The Barker report on Land Use Planning caused concern, particularly on issues surrounding town centre, out-of-town retail “parks” and competition.
A 10-point manifesto update on climate change was suggested and Denise Carlo has written to Colin Challen MP, chair of Parliamentary Climate Group. to seek a Core TAR presentation to the group.
The East of England Regional Panel report on transport and traffic reduction has been welcomed but the Regional Assembly disagree with it and it was suggested we make this a lobbying issue to obtain Government support. Stephen Joseph suggested a joint letter to Ruth Kelly.
Note: Advice about TWA order objections can be obtained from Friends of the Earth head of legal division Phil Michaels. Tel: 020 7490 1555.
He said the review made little mention of transport but Aviation could be included in the European Union carbon trading scheme. The review assumes emissions from transport will continue to rise until 2020 before levelling off and we are still nowhere near a transport and environment agenda. Reliance on carbon dioxide reduction from production of electricity is the main objective of the review.
He said there was a need to lobby the Department for Transport on carbon dioxide emissions and the recent vehicle excise duty increases for high-emission vehicles (Chelsea tractors) was nowhere near enough.
Road charging should be structured to encourage low-emission vehicles and it was no longer the political hot potato it used to be. Measures to increase use of bio fuels from 5% to 10% could be achieved through fiscal measures.
Lord Whitty said aviation expansion is still on the Government’s agenda and the only measure to control it was the European Union carbon trading scheme which is a long off. There was a need for European governments to contain aviation by putting a brake on airport expansion. Although cheap flights are popular there was a groundswell of public opinion that something had to be done.
High-speed rail could reduce the need for short haul flights and investment in rail should become an objective.
The meeting went on to discuss a review of Core TAR activities in 2005-06. It was suggested that energy policy should be included under climate change in the coming year but that climate change should continue to to be a prime campaign issue.
It was suggested a working group on transport & climate change should be formed. Stephen Joseph has been in discussion with Professor Phil Goodwin on the effect of sustained rising costs of fuel on transport.
Stephen said the Transport Innovations Fund was likely to generate public opposition and Core TAR needed to be ready with counter arguments.
Comprehensive Spending Review: A working party will submit a paper on what needs to be done to address climate change on issues where the Treasury is very week.
An update to the 2004 “Way to Go” campaign was discussed and several new items were suggested for a working group to take forward.
It was agreed to have a session on the benefits of high speed rail and I was asked to do a short paper on this.
The Barker report on Land Use Planning caused concern, particularly on issues surrounding town centre, out-of-town retail “parks” and competition.
A 10-point manifesto update on climate change was suggested and Denise Carlo has written to Colin Challen MP, chair of Parliamentary Climate Group. to seek a Core TAR presentation to the group.
The East of England Regional Panel report on transport and traffic reduction has been welcomed but the Regional Assembly disagree with it and it was suggested we make this a lobbying issue to obtain Government support. Stephen Joseph suggested a joint letter to Ruth Kelly.
Note: Advice about TWA order objections can be obtained from Friends of the Earth head of legal division Phil Michaels. Tel: 020 7490 1555.