Fresh government gains backing from council

A new Council for Net Zero Transport has been established to assist the upcoming government in achieving further decarbonization of transport. The council, set up by Zemo Partnership, a trusted independent advisor for over two decades on net zero policies, will work alongside more than 200 member organizations to create a roadmap for the overall delivery of net zero transport initiatives.

With a focus on providing strategic oversight and direction for policy, the council aims to offer a coherent, consensus-based plan for guiding future policies across all levels of government. This collaborative approach is designed to address the challenge of decarbonizing transport in the UK economy, a sector responsible for approximately a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Lord Deben, Chair of the Council, highlighted the importance of tackling the stalled progress on achieving net zero targets, stating, “Transport is one of the most challenging and complex sectors to decarbonize, and it is imperative that we forge an evidence-based, multi-stakeholder consensus on how to maximize the benefits of this essential transition.”

The council, comprising a diverse mix of public and private sector leaders, includes notable members such as Lord Deben, Professor Jillian Anable from the University of Leeds, Martin Tugwell from Transport for the North, and Anne Shaw OBE from Transport for the West Midlands.

Anne Shaw OBE, CEO of Transport for West Midlands, expressed the sector’s ambition towards a greener future, emphasizing the region’s progress towards becoming a net zero carbon region within two decades. She highlighted the initiatives in the Local Transport Plan aimed at decarbonizing transport and promoting a shift towards public transport and active travel, including the implementation of electric buses, tram lines, bus lanes, and cycle routes.

Shaw stressed the need for government support in these efforts, underscoring the importance of the Council for Net Zero Transport in pooling expertise to overcome challenges and advise the government on targeted actions to facilitate the transition towards a net zero future.

By leveraging the collective knowledge and experience of its members, the council aims to drive impactful change in decarbonizing the transport sector and accelerating the journey towards achieving net zero emissions.

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