Professor David Banister, Transport Studies Unit, Oxford University
The UK transport sector is responsible for over a quarter of UK energy use and GHG emissions, but the 2007 EWP contains no explicit targets for transport. A range of policy measures have been adopted for the sector, but the EWP focus is on voluntary standards for fuel efficiency, biofuels and the EUETS. Approaches to reduce energy consumption in transport include: making fewer trips; encouraging modal shift away from the car; reducing trip lengths; and encouraging greater efficiency in the transport system. Further debate is needed with all stakeholders to address energy use within transport to examine: the barriers to implementation; sector based targets; and making energy central to transport decision making. There is also a need to: raise public awareness and get active involvement in seeking solutions; do something about air transport; and bring behaviour change into the debate.
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