DfT outlines Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP)

The UK government has announced that it is developing a plan to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport. The Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) aims to set out in detail what government, business and society will need to do to deliver the significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction needed across all modes of transport, with the aim to put the UK on a pathway to achieving carbon budgets and net zero emissions across every single mode of transport by 2050.

In a document released by the Department for Transport (DfT), the UK is said to need to consider how people travel and how goods and services reach people. This is needed in parallel to the rapid development and deployment of clean technology, according to the document.

The government has said it will work with industry and communities around the country to develop this plan – to make towns and cities better places to live, help to create new jobs, improve air quality and health, as well as taking urgent action on climate change.

It will also consider how UK technology and innovation can support major changes to the way people and goods move across the UK and ensure the UK benefits from the opportunities decarbonisation presents.

Chapters one, two and three of the document present transport modes and their current GHG emissions, the existing strategies and the policies already in place to deliver against current targets and any future activity or work already committed or underway. Chapter four presents the projected trajectory of the forecast GHG emissions from transport to carbon budget five (2028-2032) and beyond based on the firm and funded commitments outlined.

Chapter five describes the challenge in meeting carbon budgets and net zero by 2050 and chapter six outlines the approach for engaging on this work.

“Through the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, 2020 will be the year we set out the policies and plans needed to tackle transport emissions. This document marks the start of this process. It gives a clear view of where we are today and the size of emissions reduction we need. A series of events, workshops and opportunities this year will ensure you have a chance to have your say on how we do this. We want to hear from individuals, businesses, trade associations, local authorities, scientists, researchers, innovators, interest groups and environmental groups as we develop the first comprehensive action plan for decarbonising transport,” Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, wrote in the document.

The government will publish the final plan in Autumn 2020.

About Intelligent Transport

Serving the transport industry for more than 15 years, Intelligent Transport is the leading source for information in the urban public transport sector. Covering all the new technologies and developments within this vitally important sector, Intelligent Transport provides high-quality analysis across our core topics: Smart Cities, Digitalisation, Intermodality, Ticketing and Payments, Safety and Security, The Passenger, The Fleet, Business Models and Regulation and Legislation.