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NEWS RELEASE Thursday 30th March 2006 Climate change programme fails on transport: TRANSform Scotland, Scotland's campaign for sustainable
transport, have today criticised the Scottish Executive for failing to
commit to any new measures to reduce climate change emissions from the
transport sector. [1] The new strategy has introduced doubt over the Executive's
existing road traffic stabilisation target, [2] and has failed to deliver
on the key transport recommendations of the Scottish Parliament's climate
change inquiry. [3] Transport is already responsible for almost a fifth of
Scottish transport emissions, and traffic levels are forecast to rise
by over a quarter by 2021 (on a 2001 base). Environment Minister Ross Finnie has only committed the
Executive to a "debate" on transport and climate change, through
the forthcoming National Transport Strategy consultation. Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland,
said: "The debate on transport and climate change has been
going on for over a decade but with no progress on reducing emissions
from the transport sector. The reality of Scottish Executive policy on
climate change remains that of a multi-billion pound road-building programme
and subsidies to the aviation industry for short-haul flights." The new climate change strategy documents for the first
time that the Executive is no longer firmly committed to a road traffic
stabilisation target, despite the Parliament's climate inquiry concluding
that this target should be toughened, not dropped. Colin Howden continued: "Four years ago, the then transport minister Wendy
Alexander committed the Executive to a road traffic stabilisation target.
Finnie's climate strategy takes us backwards by raising doubts over whether
it will even continue with this target. "The new climate strategy makes positive noises about
national road user charging but yet again the Executive has ducked out
of making any firm commitments to implement this. The Executive's recent
failure to support the proposals for an Edinburgh congestion charge and
for Forth Road Bridge charges have already set this debate back years. "The overall 'Scottish Share' and overall Scottish climate change target are welcome if overdue. However, the failure to break down the climate target between areas of governmental responsibility is likely to lead to the buck being passed by the various Ministers and their departments." ENDS [1] TRANSform Scotland TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, campaigning for a more sustainable and more socially-just transport system. Our membership includes bus, rail and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, consultancies and local transport campaigns. [2] Road traffic stabilisation target [3] Scottish Parliament climate change inquiry
END OF NEWS RELEASE
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