Just two weeks left to provide vital feedback on public consultation into ambitious plan to tackle climate change in the North of England
Northern residents are urged to have their say on an ambitious regional strategy to help tackle climate change through transport decarbonisation before the public consultation closes at the end of August.
Transport for the North (TfN) set out the draft Decarbonisation Strategy earlier this summer, outlining a target of near-zero carbon emissions from surface transport by 2045 – ahead of national policy.
It has already gathered considerable interest, with thousands of people across the region engaging with the strategy. Visitors to the online consultation site have spent a total of more than two weeks reading the information and submitting their feedback, and around 120 people attended live virtual events to find out more directly from the decarbonisation team at TfN.
With just two weeks to go – the consultation will close at midday on Tuesday 31 August – TfN is urging those who haven’t yet provided their response to do so now.
Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North, said:
“The need to decarbonise our surface transport network is vital in helping to tackle the climate emergency. It’s also an economic opportunity for our region, and we must also ensure we harness the innovative green growth potential across the North to realise our ambitions.
“Our pioneering Decarbonisation Strategy sets the North’s path to net zero, outlining our goal to reach near-zero earlier than the national plan, and demonstrating the importance of investment in transport infrastructure and technologies.
“There can be no doubt that this is a crucial issue for us all, so we encourage people to get involved and help shape the future of this important work.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/I2rCO_4jDqU
Transport for the North Members have highlighted their support for the Decarbonisation Strategy, including:
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham:
“If we are going to tackle the climate emergency, we need to work together and make sure we are all pulling in the same direction. Accelerating towards a decarbonised transport network must be at the heart of public policy making and investment decisions going forward, and I’m glad that the North is leading the way with this strategy as it will support Greater Manchester’s own ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038. I would urge all residents to give their views in this consultation to shape the future of more sustainable transport and travel in the North.”
Councillor Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee:
“We welcome Transport for the North’s Decarbonisation Strategy consultation and would encourage the people of the North East to get involved and have their say over the next twelve weeks. This strategy matches the objectives outlined in our North East Transport Plan which aims to take action to make travel in the North East net zero for carbon emissions. Transport innovation has a huge role in achieving the UK’s net zero carbon emissions commitment by 2050 and it’s right that we take steps now to address carbon emissions to benefit generations to come.”
Among the potential actions and areas of focus the strategy considers are:
- Zero emission vehicles, including cars, HGVs and buses, with a comprehensive network of charging facilities to support their wider use
- The decarbonisation of the rail network through electrification
- The use of hydrogen and alternative fuel vehicles
- Encouraging modal shift towards more sustainable ways of travelling, such as public transport and active travel
- Opportunities for decarbonisation in the freight industry
- Carbon reduction when projects are built, as well as carbon capture
- How Transport for the North’s four Future Travel Scenarios could present challenges and opportunities for decarbonising transport
The final Decarbonisation Strategy will be adopted by the TfN Board this autumn and submitted to the Government as statutory advice on behalf of the region. It will form the blueprint for green transport investment in the North for the coming decades.
To find out more and respond to the consultation before midday on 31 August visit: www.transportforthenorth.com/decarbonisation/.
