Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.18 The vehicle fleet in Oxfordshire needs to be made radically cleaner in terms of lower CO2
emissions. The policy and legislative responsibility lies with national government, and progress
needs to be much quicker than at present - with a target for the total vehicle fleet of less than
95 gCO2/km by 2030.
optimal in risk terms, as it is too narrow in the options being considered, and wider measures
need to be considered. However, the importance of achieving a low carbon vehicle fleet is
very clear, as this is where the majority of emissions are found. In Oxfordshire this means
that even with this level of technology, the targets will not be achieved. These types of
calculations seem to be rarely carried out, and there seems to be an absence of serious discussion
in national and local transport planning. There is much talk of reducing CO2 emissions in
transport, but little evidence of significant reductions on the ground.
These types of implementation pathways will take major efforts from the motor
manufacturers, responding to mandatory emission standards, which in turn would require UK
governmental legislation. There are issues of remit and jurisdiction, and many actions are not
taken at the local Oxfordshire level, but instead nationally, internationally, and by the market.
Consumer purchasing choice would also need to change markedly, perhaps with subsidy in
the early years to encourage mass market purchase of low-emission vehicles. Clearly the market
does not have the 'incentive' to achieve this level of change. There is a clear problem in
finding an alternative pathway to the current business model, which is to sell largely petrol
or diesel cars, and ideally large and heavy vehicles (which cost more and allow a greater
profit margin for the manufacturer). This clearly acts against societal environmental goals.
All of this is, or should be, well known but there seems to be little debate and consideration
of policy approaches which would help to navigate these problems. There is a critical role at
the governmental level to better position the boundaries for commercial operation and consumer
choice. This would mean setting up the rules of the market within which businesses can operate
 
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