Fleets urge action on air pollution to be brought forward

An open letter urging a faster action on air pollution from vehicles has been addressed to the UK government.

 

Signatures listed on an open letter urging the Chancellor to fast-track action on air pollution from vehicles consist of: DPD, UPS UK, LeasePlan, Lime, Osprey Charging, Liberty Charge, Dennis Eagle, Ricardo, Volta Trucks, Octopus EV, CMS Supatrak, The British Retail Consortium, The Westminster Commission on Road Air Quality, Global Action Plan and ClientEarth. 

The vast group of transport businesses and organisations are not only highly influential themselves, but are also working in partnership with ClientEarth, an environmental law charity, to outline a four point plan believed to "deliver a resilient economy and benefit the planet and people’s health".

This follows the announcement made by the Prime Minister himself of a ten point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which includes a ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles being brought forward from 2035 to 2030.

“The government has announced a slew of ambitious reforms to tackle the climate and air pollution crises” comments Dominic Phinn, leader of business engagement on air pollution at ClientEarth. “Businesses now want to see if this is going to be backed up by a clear roadmap with incentives, regulation and funding. This would allow them invest in cleaner forms of transport with confidence.”

The four-point plan aims at providing a transition roadmap between now and when the 2030 is in force. It explores:  

1. A mobility credit scheme to incentivise people to switch from an older polluting vehicle to a cleaner form of transport such as electric vehicles
2. Increased funding for businesses looking to develop new technologies that support a zero-emission transport solution
3. Measures to incentivise the uptake of cleaner vehicles until they reach cost-parity with petrol and diesel counterparts
4. A long-term plan for delivering a sustainable infrastructure, to accompany the £1.3bn announced in the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan

Phinn added: There is a broad appetite in the UK business community to fight against the negative impacts of air pollution. This action plan has real teeth and if the government takes it up, businesses will have the clarity they need to move forward with the transition.”