Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.27
High Street, Oxford. There are some efforts to manage traffic movement in the city centre, with
cars not allowed on particular roads. However, this needs to be made more widespread, including
across the surrounding towns wherever possible. This can be incorporated into a programme of
'smarter choices', including travel planning and traffic demand management measures. The
experiences of the Sustainable Travel Demonstration Towns programme in the UK is extremely
promising (Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester) and needs to be expanded as common
practice across all urban areas.
than 20-30 per cent is likely to present difficult decisions. These difficulties will be increased
by the current reductions in national funding levels. Scenario 3, although representing a large
level of investment beyond current funding levels available, still only delivers an expected
level of 2.0 tCO2 per capita in 2030, relative to a BAU of 4.10 tCO2 per capita, and a 2005
transport baseline of 3.8 tCO2 per capita, and target of 1.2 tCO2 per capita. The possibilities
as determined here with a set of strong policy packages only gets halfway towards the target,
and even this is difficult to actually achieve. The scale of intervention being considered, even
in the innovative authorities such as Oxfordshire, is nowhere near enough to deliver the 'fair
share' contribution towards a national CO2 reduction target.
The implication of this conclusion is not good news, and perhaps underlines many peoples'
belief (including politicians) that CO2 reductions on the scale required are not feasible under
the current governance mechanisms. In addition to innovative thinking, there is a need for
commitment and leadership at all levels and from all stakeholders. This conclusion applies
across the UK, but also in other contexts, including the high per capita transport CO2 emitting
locations, such as in Australasia, North America and the Middle East. In these locations, the
current average per capita transport CO2 emissions are much higher than those found in
Oxfordshire. There is a global atrophy in terms of policy actions, commitment and the necessary
levels of investment.
