Climate crisis: Pressure builds on Boris Johnson to deliver green transport measures during coronavirus recovery

As the UK government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has seen Britain become among the world’s worst affected countries, pressure is now growing on the prime minister to implement a coherent recovery plan which puts the environment at the top of the agenda.

On Thursday, the think tank Transport and Environment called on the government to include international aviation emissions in official net zero calculations and suggested bailout funds should only be issued to airlines subject to the companies meeting environmental conditions.

The organisation said more than €30bn (£26.8bn) has been allocated to bailout airlines across Europe due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but suggested government funds should only be issued subject to the companies meeting environmental conditions.

Greg Archer, UK director of the Transport and Environment think tank, based in Brussels, told The Independent: “If aviation emissions don’t count towards our net zero target in the UK, then there’s a serious risk there will be higher emissions than will be accounted for. And then aviation will effectively prevent us from achieving net zero. If it’s part of the carbon budget then it can be properly managed.”

He added: “Now is the time to tackle it because the airline industry in Europe has received more than €30bn of support from taxpayers in response to Covid-19.

“The aviation industry owes it to the rest of society to start paying its way and start to tackle its climate emissions in a responsible and serious way, which they haven’t done to date.”

The pressure from the think tank comes after the government’s committee on climate change wrote to transport minister Grant Shapps last year to recommended emissions from international flights and shipping be included in net zero calculations.

Outside aviation, the government is being called on to deliver policies to encourage active modes of travel such as cycling and walking – even from those connected to the motor industry.

On Wednesday, AA president Edmund King said “more radical thinking” was required to help foster changes to transport habits as the UK recovers from the impacts of the coronavirus.

One such move could be to introduce a “road miles” system whereby drivers must pay for the miles they clock-up. Speaking at an online conference organised by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, he suggested each driver in the UK could be allocated 3,000 miles “free” driving, and then must pay for each journey after that. Those in rural areas could be allocated 4,000 free miles.

He also suggested “park and pedal” services could be implemented, to allow drivers to park outside urban areas and then cycle into town and city centres.

Speaking about AA research, Mr King said: “Transport patterns won’t be the same in life after lockdown according to drivers. Half say they will walk more. Four in 10 vow to drive less, a quarter will work from home more and one fifth will cycle more. However, in the shorter term some who want to avoid public transport due to social distancing may take the car.

“We need some more radical thinking in our metropolitan areas with provision for ‘park and pedal’ at the outskirts of cities so drivers can park up and complete their journeys on two wheels or two feet.

“Given that public money will be tight and that Britain is on the road to net zero emissions target within 30 years, it would be sensible for government to prioritise funding projects that improve health and accelerate decarbonising while at the same time getting Britain moving again.”

Speaking at the same conference, Scarlett McNally a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: “There is compelling evidence on the health benefits of active travel, such as walking and cycling. These extend to the indirect benefits of lower levels of traffic related air pollution.

“Air pollution harms every organ in the body, and contributes to a number of conditions – including severe asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease – which can increase the risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

“As the country begins to recover from the pandemic, we are faced with an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the ways in which we travel. Replacing motorised transport with active travel where possible is the best way to improve our own health, and it also improves the health of the environment – building resilience against future crises.”

She added: “The government should take a number of steps to help people incorporate cycling and walking into their lives. Active travel has accounted for only 5 per cent of the transport budget in recent years.”

The coronavirus pandemic has also catalysed significant shifts in attitudes to energy production, as demand has fallen and fossil fuels are regarded as an increased investment risk.

For example, demand for oil could fall by as much as 9 per cent in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency.

On Thursday a report by Carbon Tracker called for an “orderly wind-down of fossil fuel assets”.

The report’s author, energy strategist Kingsmill Bond said: “We are witnessing the decline and fall of the fossil fuel system… We may now have seen peak fossil fuel demand as a whole.

“This is a huge opportunity for countries that import fossil fuels which can save trillions of dollars by switching to a clean energy economy in line with the Paris Agreement. Now is the time to plan an orderly wind-down of fossil fuel assets and manage the impact on the global economy rather than try to sustain the unsustainable.”

The entreaties for green policies to be at the heart of the coronavirus recovery come after more than 200 businesses wrote directly to Boris Johnson calling on him to produce a recovery plan to rebuild the economy with a clear emphasis on meeting existing commitments to tackle the climate crisis, and with greater levels of sustainability and resilience to future environmental risks.