Use today's clean fuels technology rather than bludgeoning hauliers with a tax hike, says FairFuelUK

Pressure group FairFuelUK (FFUK) has called on the UK’s decision makers to make better use of technology in reducing road transport emissions further, rather than using the blunt instrument of increased taxation.

FFUK was responding to a recent report, The unintended consequences of freezing fuel duty, written by former government transport advisor Professor David Begg on behalf of Greener Journeys.

The report, which calls for a fuel duty increase, claims the government’s seven-year freeze has caused an extra 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by encouraging people to abandon public transport in favour of cars.

As well as an increase in carbon emissions, an additional 12,000 tonnes of NOx emissions and 816 tonnes of PM10 particles have been emitted during this period.

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FFUK director Howard Cox said: “Vehicle pollutants have been decreasing and continue to do so because fuel technology is evolving at a rapid pace. They could fall further if existing practical ways to improve air quality were implemented now, instead of punishing drivers in the pocket.

“FFUK is working with MPs to convince the government to do that, in a series of APPG Fair Fuel Inquiries in July, chaired by Kirstene Hair, Conservative MP for Angus.”

Cox said FFUK had looked into technology such as bulk additives including Green Plus and Opti-Diesel, as well as affordable retrofit options and – for petrol engines – increased bioethanol use in the fuel mix.