Thank you for contacting me about transport emissions and air quality
In order to help tackle air pollution, the Government has brought forward to 2030 the date at which sales of new petrol and diesel cars will end. By 2035, all new cars and vans must be zero emission at the tailpipe.
At a local level, the most immediate challenge on air quality is nitrogen dioxide concentrations around roads. The UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations, sets out how compliance with existing legal targets can be achieved in the shortest possible time. The plan is supported by a £3.5 billion investment into air quality and cleaner transport and outlines how councils with the worst levels of air pollution at busy road junctions and hotspots must take robust action in the shortest time possible.
To help affected local authorities take immediate steps to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions and meet the Government’s obligations, more than £880 million of support has been made available. Alongside this, I welcome a £2 billion investment in cycling and walking over the course of this Parliament – the largest ever boost for active travel.
Ministers are also supporting areas to develop Clean Air Zones as a means of reducing Nitrogen Dioxide to legal levels by charging older and dirtier vehicles for entering an area.
The Transport Decarbonisation Plan promises to deliver a step change in the breadth and scale of our ambition to reduce transport’s greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero. As part of this, the plan sets out a roadmap to improve public transport and increase support for active travel, which will make them the natural first choice for people across the UK. To this end, commitments include creating a net zero rail network by 2050, ensuring net zero domestic aviation emissions by 2040 and leading the transition to green shipping.
I am afraid I will be unable to attend Client Earth's drop-in event on 11th January in Portcullis House due to prior commitments.