Achieving sharp reductions in London's transport emissions – up to 60% by 2025, 80% by 2050 – is possible according to a major study led by Halcrow and the University of Oxford. But it would require a comprehensive, multi-strand policy approach.
Using a bespoke, city-based transport emission simulation model, the study demonstrates the impact of various potential policy decisions.
Commenting on the study, Halcrow project manager and research fellow at Oxford's transport studies unit, Dr Robin Hickman said: “The findings from this study demonstrate how effective packaging of a wide range of interventions – including promoting low emission vehicles, investment in public transport, walking and cycling, behavioural change measures, promoting ecological driving and slower speeds and freight planning – can help London move towards a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025 and onto even deeper cuts beyond”.
An executive summary, simulation model and background report outlining the findings of the 'visioning and backcasting for transport in London' (VIBAT) study have now been published.
The VIBAT London project was funded by the University of London's UrbanBuzz programme, a knowledge-transfer scheme aimed at developing “genuinely sustainable forms of development and community in London and the wider Southeast region”.
The project has been published setting out how London can achieve deep CO2 reduction targets in transport. A range of future year scenarios have been tested, with policy pathways developed towards a 60 per cent reduction in transport CO2 emissions by 2025, rising to 80 per cent by 2050.
It has developed a backcasting approach to transport planning in London – visioning a sustainable transport future for 2050 and 2025 and “casting back” to the present day in terms of steps required to implement a carbon efficient transport system.
Many measures have been put in place throughout London to help reduce CO2 emissions, including the London Congestion Charge and 20mph zones, but the AA president Edmund King said that these could actually be increasing CO2 emissions.
He said: “If we are smart about urban transport we can reduce CO2 and congestion without spending millions. Congestion and CO2 can be reduced by improving traffic flow through co-ordination of road works, phasing of lights and good parking policy.
“If we continually obstruct traffic with excessive traffic calming, we will increase congestion and CO2. New technology to improve fuel efficiency will be the biggest contribution to reducing CO2 from road transport.'
Transport secretary Lord Adonis announced plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions earlier this year and the promotion of cycling was high on the agenda. Lord Adonis said that the green transport measures would save an additional 85 million tonnes of CO2 over the period of 2018-22.
Totally this. Go back 100-120 years and say "you know old chap the time will come when everyone has got one of these infernal cars" and perhaps...
I assumed they were in a chain gang so looking straight at them she may not have seen a large group.
Isn't that what Chump says in court?
In Australia, two Melbourne suburbs with car-hating notoriously Green Left councils have 18 mph (30 kph) speed limits, essentially forcing cars to...
More likely they're just responding to a very skewed version of the incident presented to them by Royal Parks at face value.
We had to seriously brake to avoid a car running a red light this weekend; we were also in a car, following a green light....
I guess the FLock Light works best if you have paler legs for it to light up. Mine are actually blue (like any true Scotsman's legs they only turn...
Helmet zealots' lack of logic and knowledge, as evidenced by your post I responded to, exasperate me I'm afraid.
Absolutely agree: "You'll be sure to make a statement with these brightly-coloured road shoes from Fizik" - the statement being "I have no taste...
Well done to Nick for opening up and sharing his story. Much respect.