Government transport policies

January 2022

SG Route Map for reducing car use

The Scottish Government has published a document outlining its policy of reducing car use by 20% by 2030, and begun a public consultation on it which runs until 6 April.

The Route Map was introduced by Transport Minister Graeme Dey, addressing a hybrid meeting of the Scottish Parliament on 13 January 2022.  His statement was notable for the lack of clarity and concision one has unfortunately come to expect from government policy announcements, and its lack of specific proposals was noted by other MSPs in subsequent questioning.

The core of the policy lies in the list of over 30 'interventions' listed in section 3 of the route map, but their multitude and complexity - not to mention the quirky numbering system - do not inspire much confidence that the policy is likely to succeed.

From Transport Scotland

Reducing car use for a healthier, fairer and greener Scotland

The Scottish Government has published its route map outlining steps needed to reduce car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030.

The world-leading target was set out in the Climate Change Plan Update (CCPu), published in December 2020.

The route map sets out a range of sustainable travel behaviours grouped into four categories:

• travel less: use online options where appropriate
• stay local: chose a more local destination to meet your needs
• switch mode: to walk, wheel, cycle, or use public transport where possible
• combine a journey: where the other options are not feasible

Additionally, research will be commissioned to explore equitable options for demand management to discourage car use, to enable the development of a new Framework for Car Demand Management by 2025.

The route map has been developed by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

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September 2021

Jet zero: UK Government strategy for net zero aviation

NOTE  that the entire policy is based on the idea that there is no need for the government to require or encourage any reduction in flying.

Our vision is for the aviation sector to reach net zero aviation, or jet zero, by 2050.

A consultation ran from  14 July  to  8 September 2021

The consultation set out our proposed approach and principles to reach net zero aviation by 2050.

Our ambition is to:

• decarbonise aviation in a way that preserves the benefits of air travel
• maximise the opportunities that decarbonisation can bring

We are proposing a suite of policies to support industry to reduce and, where possible, eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from aviation. These policies span 5 different measures that aim to:

• improve the efficiency of our aviation system
• accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels
• support the development of zero emission flight
• ensure we use markets to drive down emissions in the most cost-effective way
• influence the behaviour of consumers

Read the consultation and policy document