Transport Secretary calls for green transport revolution

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says now is the time for a green transport revolution. 

Speaking at the LowCVP’s Annual Conference, Shapps (pictured) said: “We can reframe the narrative around green vehicles and show that it is this generation that will drive the transition to zero carbon road transport.”

Shapps remarked that the Covid-19 pandemic has given the UK a unique opportunity to rethink the way it travels and to accelerate the development of clean technologies.

The minister’s ambition is backed up by a survey of expert stakeholders – carried out by LowCVP for the event – which shows that the vast majority (92%) of respondents agree that now is the moment for a ‘reset’ in terms of decarbonising road transport with nearly 85% saying that the disruption caused by the pandemic has opened the door to the public accepting more radical and effective policy prescriptions for ‘greening’ road transport.

Speaking after the minister’s statement, LowCVP’s managing director welcomed the heightened ambition towards road transport decarbonisation. 

Andy Eastlake said: “Our target must no longer be to achieve ‘low carbon’ road transport but to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from every stage of the whole transport system.

“That’s why, I’m announcing that our partnership of over 200 organisations will be changing focus from ‘low’ to zero carbon and will be introducing a new brand identity to better reflect our revised objective of net zero by 2050.

“We’ll be working with leading partners in the next few weeks to introduce a new name that will communicate our heightened ambition but still reflect the vital role every member has in contributing to rapid decarbonisation.”

Speaking at the event, Secretary of State Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP said: “Part of the opportunity is to shift opinions. To impress on the country that the green transport revolution which we’ve been talking about for many years is actually happening now.

“Some of the transformational improvements are literally within touching distance.”

Commenting on the role of the Partnership he later added: “Through unprecedented collaboration with the extraordinary array of businesses, academic and environmental institutions that make up the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, this Government is putting its full weight firmly behind the Net Zero campaign.

“By working closely together, we are rebuilding our infrastructure, investing in cutting edge technology, and enabling a green transport recovery as we work towards our full Transport Decarbonisation Plan later in the year.”

The LowCVP’s conference survey found that a large majority (91%) of over 200 expert stakeholders who answered the survey think that the time is ripe to ramp-up ambition in terms of road transport decarbonisation and that there is an expectation that people are now open to more radical and rapid change.

Sign up for our essential
newsletter service.

Enter your details here.