The report, written by consultants Steer Davies Gleave, concludes that the Department for Transport does not have a clear picture of the effects of its policies and proposals on climate change. There are no data on carbon dioxide emissions for over half of the road-building schemes in the Government’s Targeted Programme of Improvements, which consists of agreed major improvements to the trunk road and motorways network. The report suggests that measures such as enforcing or reducing speed limits would bring major reductions in carbon emissions.
Publication of the report coincides with the release of UK government statistics that evaluate environmental performance based on an index of 68 different indicators. These, according to a report on the Greenmedia website, show mixed results.
Improvements are noted in waste recycling, air pollution emissions and local environment quality, but aviation emissions, household waste levels and water leaks are still a concern.
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