Carbon savings could bring £8.7bn to the Midlands

Research from transport body Midlands Connect has shown reducing carbon emissions and creating cleaner air will result in £8.7 billion of benefits to the local economy.

The benefits, which begin with the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles, would see a fall from more than 14m tonnes of harmful chemicals like CO2 per annum in 2023 to under 7m tonnes per annum by 2050, which could be worth £405m to £1.5bn to the NHS and £8.7bn to the economy.

The findings, from the ‘Supercharging the Midlands’ report, found that EV use in the region was projected to increase by more than 3000% by the end of the decade. Under the higher uptake of EV scenario, it is now being used by the Department for Transport in their national framework for the rollout of EV infrastructure: the 2035 Delivery Plan for Transitioning to Net Zero report.

Bharat Pathania, Technical Innovation Lead at Midlands Connect, said: “By reducing the number of petrol vehicles on our roads and swapping to healthier options like EVs, we can enjoy cleaner air across the Midlands. All in all this means less carbon dioxide and cleaner air which means a better economy.

“This isn’t just a health thing – it’s a massive economic thing too – it’s worth up to £1.5 billion for the NHS and nearly £9 billion for the Midlands’ economy. Midlands Connect has led the way on EV work and this analysis shows quicker uptake of EVs is win-win for everyone.”

This year’s Transport + Energy Forum includes a panel session on the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund which features Bharat Pathania from Midlands Connect plus other participating councils, enabling local authorities to discover how to bid and learn from others who have obtained the funding. Qualifiying representatives from local authorities can apply for a fully funded place via the event website. The offer includes conference admission, accommodation and an evening celebratory/networking dinner, with day options also available. 

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