“They must embrace an ‘Eliminate, Minimise, Offset’ approach”
In offering advice that should be taken by the Irish Government, the Coach Passenger division of Road Haulage Association (RHA) is calling for the UK Government to show coordinated leadership by creating a well-considered, evidence-based national decarbonisation roadmap that fully takes account of the needs of users and the environment. Published recently, the call is clearly defined in the Association’s latest ’Eliminate, Minimise, Offset’ Paper that sets out its vision on how the commercial vehicle sector can achieve Net Zero emissions. The cornerstone of this approach is investment in developing vehicle standards to drive down CO2 emissions, supported by stable regulation.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “We are concerned that the current political train of thought is increasingly attuned to knee-jerk and simplistic demonising of road users that some groups and politicians see as being unpopular or polluting. There is little regard to the essential needs of the economy and society for goods to be moved. Both the political ambition and technological potential to reduce UK CO2 emissions is clear. However, sustainable and predictable implementation is less so, and our updated policy paper sets out clear recommendations to steer the next steps.”
“It is unfortunate that, as the UK recovers from the devastating impact of Covid-19, the political debate is currently unbalanced and threatens to alienate any good-will that exists ‘to do the right thing’. Politicians know that successful environmental outcomes depend on a healthy, mobile economy that generates the tax revenue needed to invest in lowering emissions. But they must also understand that a healthy economy depends on the cost-effective and efficient transportation of people and goods. A more inclusive approach to decarbonisation, one that takes account of the need for business to have confidence to invest in new equipment, is essential as the drive to net zero continues.”
