The UK government has rejected plans from the EU which plan a ban on petrol and diesel cars from city centres by 2050.
The European Commission revealed its white paper ‘Roadmap for the Future of Transport 2050’ late yesterday which details plans to reduce dependency on oil, reduce congestion and reduce emissions from the transport sector.
According to the BBC, Transport minister Norman Baker has already revealed he will not support the call to ban fossil-fuelled cars from cities, despite EU’s report suggesting that the measure could help cut carbon emissions by as much as 60 per cent.
Norman Baker told the BBC: ”We will not be banning cars from city centres anymore than we will be having rectangular bananas."
Presented Siim Kallas EU Transport Commissioner, plans for a ‘Single European Transport Area’ also propose a 50 per cent shift in middle distance journeys (above 186 miles) by passengers and freight from road to rail to reduce congestion. The roadmap details how the EU could target a 40 per cent cut in shipping emissions and a 40 per cent use of low carbon fuels in aviation to reduce environmental impact without reducing mobility.
However Mr Baker announced that the UK will not be seeking to adopt the main strategy of the plan; a 50 per cent reduction in conventionally-fuelled cars in city centres by 2030, with them disappearing altogether 20 years later.
He told the broadcaster: "It is right that the EU sets high-level targets for carbon reduction, however it is not right for them to get involved in how this is delivered in individual cities."
In his presenting speech, Siim Kallas explained that the plans were not designed to restrict mobility: “Freedom to travel is a basic right for our citizens and it is critical to the development of a Europe’s business sector.
“Curbing mobility is not an option. Nor is business as usual.”
