ROAD TRAFFIC EMISSIONS

Motion Text

That this House notes the alarming 83 per cent. increase in road traffic between 1980 and 2004 and more than a 50 per cent. increase in associated carbon dioxide emissions over the same period with road transport now accounting for 18 per cent. of total UK greenhouse gas emissions and rising; further notes with regret that the UK car industry has shown the poorest rate in Europe in improving emissions of new cars with the Institute for European Environmental Policy reporting new UK cars among the highest average carbon dioxide emitters and research by the Energy Savings Trust demonstrating emissions from new UK cars now actually increasing for private car purchases; acknowledges Department for Transport research showing two-thirds of people understand that transport emissions are a major contributor to climate change; and urges the Government now to take firm steps to encourage consumers to consider environmental performance in car purchasing decisions through reform of the Vehicle Excise Duty better to reflect associated vehicle emissions.