A new Carbon Transition Strategy has been published by Peninsula Transport, a shadow Sub-national Transport Body (STB) made up of transport bodies from Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.
The new publication looks at the regional requirements for decarbonisation and measures that can be used to address it. The body’s wider goals align with that of the UK government to accelerate transport decarbonisation.
Three priorities were outlined by Peninsula Transport, including prioritising the delivery of improved regional public transport options, delivering a well-planned network of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and delivering a zero-emissions bus fleet.
The strategy used modelling to forecast future transport emissions in the peninsula to help assess the effectiveness of different inventions.
Baseline transport emissions of more than 4,400 ktCO2e per annum show the challenge of achieving net zero in the peninsula, with modelling suggesting that transport emissions in the peninsula could still be around 3,300 ktCO2e per annum in 2050 if current policy is not met with further actions.
To address these difficulties, 12 actions were shortlisted in the new strategy, and encompass a range of approaches to support the reduction of regional carbon emissions.
These include reducing transport demand, changing the method of transport, using alternative fuels and encouraging active travel.
Cllr Andrea Davis, chairman of Peninsula Transport, said: “In the face of the climate emergency, action must be taken at all levels to reduce carbon emissions.
“We need to ensure that our approaches work with the demands of our peninsula’s unique geographical constraints. We need to be able to remove the barriers to public transport to make it a more viable option rather than taking our cars.
“We will ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support low carbon travel options, from riding our bikes to charging our electric vehicles. The Carbon Transition Strategy sets the foundation of what we need to do at a regional level to help accelerate work to achieve our carbon ambitions. Partnership working is key.
“The three priority actions for Peninsula Transport will complement and build on actions from our local authorities, operators and partners to help meet the challenge of decarbonising our transport system and at the same time ensuring widespread connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors across the region.”
In total, four future transport scenarios were produced with stakeholders, ranging from a ‘low ambition’ approach, which used the current policy as a baseline alongside limited other measures, to a ‘maximum ambition’ approach, which combined significant behavioural and technological changes for regional travel.
