New practical advice to help local authorities decarbonise transport

The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched new practical advice to help local authorities decarbonise the transport industry.  

Transport is responsible for an estimated 33% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, therefore if the UK is to achieve it’s legally binding net-zero targets then urgent action to accelerate change is needed.

In order to help accelerate this transition, the LGA has commissioned researchers at the University of Leeds to develop policy briefings.

The briefings were developed in collaboration with councillors and officers from 27 local authorities, at workshops which took place in London and Leeds before the pandemic.

The series of briefing notes will provide councils with a practical set of actions that they can use for decarbonisation.

These include advice on how to set achievable timescales, to a list of measures that will help people to change their travel behaviours.

Cllr David Renard, chairman of the LGA’s Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport Board, said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to revaluate how our transport networks operate but they have not altered our commitment to reaching net zero.

‘Recovery from the crisis must be compatible with our decarbonisation ambitions and our briefing notes are mindful of both the new reality we are in and the opportunity we can grasp as part of a green recovery.’

Professor Greg Marsden, who led the project, said: ‘Different councils face different transport challenges, but everywhere has to act – and to act now. We cannot continue to pass the buck to our neighbours or to the next generation.

‘Our work shows what councils can do today to help cut climate emissions and improve the places where we live and work.

‘Anyone who wants to see these changes in their area can play a role by contacting their council to tell them about the briefings and ask what is being done locally to deliver a climate-smart recovery from COVID-19.’

Seven webinars have been organised to launch the briefing notes. While the webinars are only open to LGA members all briefings can be read for free on the LGA website.