New Net Zero board established by transport secretary
The government has established a new Net Zero transport board to bring together high-profile leaders from a range of fields including behavioural change and policy, as well as experts from a number of prominent industry sectors including environment, science, aviation and technology.
The group, who met for the first time this month, will provide ministers with advice from expert stakeholders on what steps they feel government should be taking to ensure a green recovery from coronavirus and the associated economic impact.
The board’s agenda will cover what further action the government should be taking to support jobs and the economy in line with the UK’s transport decarbonisation goals.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says: “Clearly our ground-breaking transport decarbonisation plan must be shaped by the best brains and informed by the widest array of expertise and experience.
“I’m determined to build a greener, healthier, more prosperous Britain for future generations and I have no doubt that the Net Zero transport board will play an integral part in our green recovery.
“The board will also help shape and inform the transport decarbonisation plan coming later this year. It is the first time the UK will lay out its approach to decarbonising every form of transport, setting out a credible and ambitious pathway to delivering transport’s contribution to carbon budgets and to meeting net zero by 2050.”
Transport minister Rachel Maclean adds: “The coronavirus pandemic has led to people making huge changes to the way they live, work and travel, and we want to capitalise and build on the new habits people have developed, as well as champion the power of new, cleaner technologies on our road to a green recovery.”
Responding to the launch of the new group, Darren Shirley, chief executive, Campaign for Better Transport, says: “We welcome the government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions from transport, and its recognition that much more needs to be done to bring the sector in line with Net Zero targets. As the UK begins the process of recovery from Covid-19, the need for sustainable transport has only strengthened.
“By supporting public transport, walking, cycling and zero-emission vehicles, the Government can not only improve our environment and our health, but also create jobs, tackle social exclusion and help the economy to recover.”