The Zemo Partnership is calling for urgent government action to ensure targets are translated into the policies that will achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
In its latest ‘Delivery roadmap for net zero transport’, Zemo said: “The commitment to increase the UK’s target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions to 81% by 2035 (vs 1990 levels) is ambitious but currently unmatched by the domestic policies necessary to achieve the target.
“This enhanced target demands even greater urgency in delivering emissions reductions from road transport. The sector will need to be virtually carbon free by 2050.”
The report warns that “unprecedented cross-sector collaboration is needed to avoid future, damaging policy turbulence”.
It calls for an increase in the plug-in truck grant, which currently stands at a maximum of £25,000 for electric HGVs over 12 tonnes GVW, and for the phasing in of a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate for trucks over the next three to four years.
The report said the government should “decarbonise the existing fleet with a package of measures to boost production and demand for low carbon fuels”. The transport sector has been waiting for almost two years for a renewable fuels strategy which still shows no sign of making an appearance. Zemo has already proposed a sliding scale fuel duty discount for renewable fuels based on their carbon emissions and also wants to see an increase in the biofuel content of Derv – currently standing at 7% - under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.
Controversially to many, Zemo also wants the government to encourage the development of a green hydrogen that could serve as a renewable fuel for the road transport and other sectors.
“Investigation is needed of the cost, energy efficiency and durability of hydrogen-powered HGVs and of how the associated infrastructure will work in practice,” the report said. “Hydrogen fuel cell HGVs and refuelling sites are being trialled as part of Zehid. Action should also be taken to ensure that a green hydrogen supply chain is in place to meet competing demands from a range of sectors.”
Zemo MD Claire Haigh (pictured) said: “Policy changes and uncertainty are damaging and will slow down the transition. We need to coalesce around a shared vision of the future and, together, agree the finer details of policies to avoid future, unhelpful turbulence.”
