RIA Transport Decarbonisation plan 2023

RIA BRIEFING: TRANSPORT DECARBONISATION PLAN

PROGRESS REPORT TWO YEARS ON

June 2023

1. Introduction

In July 2021, the Department for Transport (DfT) published its Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP), which was welcomed by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), given the commitments were consistent with those sought by our members.

The Transport Select Committee recently commented on the Government’s progress against this plan in its report, ‘Fuelling the Future’. The report found that there is a gap between what was promised in the TDP and what is being delivered, especially when it comes to rail:

Transport Select Committee

July 21 Transport Decarbonisation Plan Commitment Transport Select Committee Recommendations March 2023

Deliver a net zero rail network by 2050*, ambition to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger).

To meet its objective to phase out all diesel-powered trains by 2040, the Government must increase the current pace of electrification set out in Network Rail’s traction decarbonisation plan.

Deliver an ambitious, sustainable, and cost effective programme of electrification guided by Network Rail’s TDNS and freight) by 2040.

Develop and deploy battery and hydrogen trains and deploy them on the network as we decarbonise. Use technology to clean up diesel trains until they can be removed altogether.

As stated in our ‘Trains fit for the future?’ report, we recommend that the DfT publish a long-term strategy for decarbonising the rail network as a matter of priority.

This should include a vision for what proportion of the future network will use electrification, battery and hydrogen. That strategy should be supported by appropriate costings, a credible delivery plan, and enabling targets and milestones.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

Two years on from the publication of the report, RIA has revisited the TDP commitments to carry out a quantitative analysis of their progress as part of the RailDecarb23 campaign. We have reviewed all the commitments made in the July 2021 TDP against public announcements up to May 2023. Each commitment has been rated as follows: Red – commitments not met; Amber – commitments partially met; and Green – commitments met.

The detailed assessment is presented sector by sector in the later sections of this document and is summarised below:

July 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan progress against commitments

May 2023

It is readily apparent from this graph that the Government is making significantly less progress against its commitments for decarbonising the rail sector compared to other transport sectors. This is a serious concern to RIA and its members – and the lack of progress is difficult to understand when the railway industry has credible technical solutions for decarbonisation and supporting delivery plans. Lack of decisions to progress these plans risks the railway industry falling behind other transport sectors when it comes to decarbonisation and prevents rail businesses planning for the future.

2. Conclusions

It is clear that, compared to other transport sectors, the Government is not meeting its commitments for rail decarbonisation. This represents a lost opportunity for the rail industry to demonstrate how it can deliver efficiently, make significant carbon reductions, and improve rail services through the modernisation that comes with decarbonisation.

3. Recommendations

To empower rail to fulfil its immense potential, RIA urges the Government to refocus on the commitments in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and take the actions necessary to catch up with progress in other modes. Doing so will enable the UK to reach net zero transport by 2050.

The July 2021 commitments were very consistent with the those sought by the railway industry as part of RIA’s RailDecarb23 campaign. We therefore urge the Government to adopt the RailDecarb23 four-point plan to accelerate rail decarbonisation.

i) Immediately implement a rolling programme of costeffective electrification on intensively-used lines

38% of the UK rail network is electrified – much less than comparable European countries. Electrified railways have been shown to benefit passengers and the wider travelling public as they:

● Are better for the environment, with carbon emissions 60% lower than those from diesel trains today and 80% less with the estimated 2040 grid mix; they also produce no air pollutants at the point of use;

● Cost less in the long term when compared to the whole-life costs of diesel services;

● Improve journey times due to superior braking and acceleration;

● Reduce passenger delays, as electric trains are more reliable than diesel trains;

● Are quieter, reducing noise pollution for those living and working near the tracks and reducing noise and vibration for passengers;

● Are lighter, meaning less wear to the track and therefore less maintenance; and

● Are the only decarbonisation technology suitable for freight trains and faster passenger trains (above 100mph).

Electrification in the past has been delivered in peaks and troughs of work, providing the industry with a significant amount of work over a few years, followed by a ‘cliff-edge’ in activity. This has contributed to higher costs, as the sector is unable to retain the skills and expertise. In contrast a consistent workload in Germany has supported much lower unit costs.

A rolling programme of electrification could reduce costs by up to 50% compared to some past problem projects, as demonstrated in RIA’s Electrification Cost Challenge report

ii) Ramp-up fleet orders of low carbon rolling stock using new traction methods on less intensively-used parts of the network, including hydrogen and battery

There are parts of the network where electrification will not be a cost-effective solution and where technologies like hydrogen and battery will have a role. The industry has demonstrated its ability to offer these new technologies, with a number of rail suppliers working on low carbon rolling stock solutions. However, despite the fact that immediate carbon reduction could be achieved, no significant fleet orders have been placed for these technologies.

A significant fleet order of new rolling stock would stimulate a new industrial sector, creating and retaining jobs and intellectual property in the UK whilst accelerating the decarbonisation of the network and supporting future exports. There is an opportunity for UK rail to become a global leader in battery and hydrogen technologies, with rail demand helping to create the UK market necessary to stimulate growth and kick start the zero-carbon economy.

iii) Government, Network Rail and other rail clients to work with suppliers so they never lose out for offering lower carbon solutions, but are incentivised to reduce emissions

Many rail suppliers have set out their own route to net zero and are actively innovating to reduce the carbon in the goods and services they supply. Clients such as Network Rail (NR) are supporting this by asking suppliers to sign

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

up to targets to reduce the 97% of NR’s carbon emissions that fall within ‘scope three’, meaning that they largely come from third parties, including suppliers. NR’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes a target for 75% of suppliers to have their own science-based targets by 2025.

This is positive, but it needs to be supported by specification and buying strategies that do not penalise low carbon solutions which are a little more expensive or simply new. By adopting RIA’s key decarbonisation asks, the Government will enable rail to play a fuller role in securing net zero, and also give the supply sector the certainty it needs to plan ahead and deliver efficiently whilst creating jobs, investment and economic growth.

iv) Planning for cost efficient delivery

Recognising the current fiscal challenges, RIA further recommends that there should be a cross-industry dialogue to establish a plan that maximises carbon reduction and rail service benefits within the available funding. This would aim to provide the industry with sufficient certainty to support investment decisions and a ramp up of delivery capability to deliver a programme for net zero rail. This could include examination of market solutions for financing the programme.

To stimulate this discussion, RIA will be developing further whole system proposals (including infrastructure and rolling stock) for interventions needed to efficiently decarbonise.

4. Progress review of the July 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Action Plan

In the following section we assess the progress at June 2023 of each transport mode against the commitments in the July 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan. Each commitment has been rated as follows: Red – commitments not met; Amber – commitments partially met; and Green – commitments met.

4.1 Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Decarbonising our railways

We will deliver a net zero rail network by 2050, with sustained carbon reductions in rail along the way. Our ambition is to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040

This means that relatively short stretches of new infill electrification could allow a significant rise in the electric haulage of freight. We will pursue such electrification to maximise the benefits gained from rail freight.

Exploit new technologies such as hydrogen and battery trains by using the most appropriate technology for each route across the network.

We will also pursue options for electrifying the remaining diesel pockets of the third rail network. Further electrification schemes will be announced shortly.

The Plan for Rail will encourage more freight onto rail from roads, reducing emissions. We will support this by providing the right conditions for the rail freight industry to grow with better coordination, modern contracts, and new safeguards.

Currently, a mere 10% of British freight trains are hauled by electric locomotives and the UK lags behind its European counterparts when it comes to rail freight electrification.

CILT research

No significant battery and hydrogen fleet orders have been placed. The diesel pockets of the electrification network have not been resolved. In Nov 21 Transpennine and Midland Mainline electrification was announced in the Integrated Rail Plan Other schemes have been announced in Wales and Scotland. Although all welcome not all are funded.

Government must ‘pick winners’ by investing in low-carbon fuels for aviation and rail, says Transport Committee The report urges ministers to speed up progress with electrifying the UK’s railways lines, setting out that the government isn’t on track to reach a net zero railway by 2050.

Rail freight growth was mentioned in the George Bradshaw address but no progress since.

We will deliver an ambitious, sustainable, and cost-effective programme of electrification guided by Network Rail’s TDNS

We are supporting the development of battery and hydrogen trains and will deploy them on the network as we decarbonise. We will also use technology to clean up diesel trains until they can be removed altogether

We are building extra capacity on our rail network to meet growing passenger and freight demand and support significant shifts from road and air to rail

We will use TDNS to guide our work with partners across the rail sector to deliver an affordable, deliverable programme to fully decarbonise our railway.

We will exploit newer technologies such as hydrogen and battery trains alongside electrification. Deliver lower whole life costs than electrification.

We are committed to the construction of new lines to meet growing demand for rail travel. The government is already getting on with building HS2 Phase One and 2a, which will create 170 miles of new electrified track between London, Birmingham and Crewe by the early 2030s.

Hasn’t been carried out. RIA has calculated that the completion of all the known (but not all funded) schemes is less than 20% of the TDNS recommendation.

Prototypes have been completed but no significant battery and hydrogen fleet orders have been placed

Both hydrogen and battery fleets have been ordered in Europe.

HS2, East West Rail and Northern Powerhouse Rail going ahead. But HS2 and NPR have both been cut back and delayed, for example the construction of parts of HS2 have been delayed and the Golborne Link and the Eastern Leg have been dropped.

We will work with industry to modernise fares ticketing and retail to encourage a shift to rail and cleaner and greener transport journeys

Offer simple options for passengers and enable cheaper fares at quieter times. This will end sudden price jumps for peak time trains and reduce the number of empty services.

We will preserve affordable ‘walk up and go’ fares.

On shorter-distance routes, we will increasingly move to contactless ticketing to improve convenience for passengers.

An investment of £360 million will radically reform and improve passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing and retailing on the railways.

TfL is in the process of phasing out its paper tickets, which is expected to be completed by 2024. Instead the integration of barcode “e-tickets”, will be boosted as the operator charges higher prices for paper tickets.

We will improve rail journey connectivity with walking, cycling and other modes of transport

In 2021/22 we will spend a further £2 million to improve cycling access to stations and increase sustainable journeys by installing cycle racks, security systems, ramps, and cycle paths through the Cycle Rail Scheme, building on the £40 million provided since 2012.

Ensuring better integration with other local transport services through Local Transport Plans will transform stations into joined up mobility hubs within local and regional transport networks.

Secure cycle storage, cycle/e-cycle hire, dedicated car-pooling parking spaces, and electric vehicle rental points and charge points will be significantly expanded, including at smaller stations.

We will increase the amount of space for bikes on trains wherever practically possible, particularly on popular leisure routes, and will make it easier to reserve bike spaces online and without reservations on emptier trains. All future trains will include more bike space relevant to the markets served.

Active Travel England is investing £32.9 million to create a national network of experts to work with communities, enhance high streets and make places truly walkable and cyclable for everyone.

Active travel is a priority for the government across councils and safer streets but at present are not being integrated with other local transport services.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

We will introduce a rail growth freight target

We are committed to introducing a rail freight growth target for all areas of the network DfT oversees, to encourage the continued growth of rail freight.

Great British Railways will also have a statutory duty to promote rail freight.

We are investing in the rail network for freight, building on the £235 million of investments made in Control Period 5 (2014-2019), supporting the development of an expanded network of Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges, and continuing to fund grants that support the modal shift of freight to rail.

We will work closely with industry partners to develop the target.

The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) held a call for evidence on a rail freight growth target.

In December 2022 GBRTT published a Market Development Plan no actions and activities to grow rail freight.

Legislative proposals for GBR included a proposal for a rail freight growth target to be a statutory duty of GBR. RIA understands that Government aims to respond to the consultation which was held on the legislation shortly.

Measures to help boost the freight sector are moving forward as of 5 April 2023, as a new Governmentindustry forum is launched to help the sector decarbonise and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Freight transport in Great Britain suffered a sharp decline in the last quarter of 2022. That’s according to the latest data released by the Office for Rail and Road (ORR).

We will incentivise the early take up of low carbon traction rail freight

We will develop further interventions, in partnership with industry, to help freight operating companies have the confidence they need to invest in replacing current rolling stock.

As we develop potential policy interventions, we will ensure rail freight maintains its competitiveness with road freight, and that interventions represent value for money for the taxpayer.

The first winners of the Freight Innovation Fund (FIF), backed by £7 million overall, have been announced on 11 April 2023 and could help create cleaner, more innovative ways of delivering freight around the country.

Rail Partners represent both independent passenger and freight operating companies and have released a new report which provides steps that the Government can take in order to increase growth both now and in the future.

Evidence government is not working enough with industry.

4.2. Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Increasing cycling and walking

We will deliver the Prime Minister’s bold vision for cycling and walking investing £2 billion over five years with the aim that half of all journeys in towns and cities will be cycled or walked by 2030

The delivery of thousands of miles of safe, continuous, direct routes for cycling in towns and cities, physically separated from pedestrians and volume motor traffic.

Creating a new funding body and inspectorate “Active Travel England” to enforce the standards and raise performance generally.

Supporting the creation of more School Streets.

Further investment in cycle training and behaviour change programmes to support cycling and walking to school including Bikeability training and Walk to School Outreach.

Sadiq Khan announced that construction work will begin on four major new cycling infrastructure projects across the capital this month.

£32.9 million to create a national network of walking and cycling experts.

The launch of Active Travel England as inspectorate and funding body will ensure the enforcement of new guidance by local authorities to help people make more shorter journeys by bicycle or on foot.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, hailed the success of his School Streets programme today as he announced that across London there are now more than 500 School Streets in place.

Bikeability is the government’s national cycle training programme. It helps you learn practical skills and understand how to cycle on today’s roads.

Cycle training for children and families has received a record investment as the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed £20 million of funding for Bikeability to deliver its cycle training programme next year. (March 2022)

A green initiative aimed at encouraging hundreds of thousands of children to walk to school has received £2.1 million in government support, Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris announced today (May 2021)

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

We will deliver a world class cycling and walking network in England by 2040

We will deliver comprehensive cycling and walking networks in all large towns and cities and widespread delivery of measures to enable cycling and walking in local areas such as school streets and cycle training delivered to all children and adults that want it.

We will enable behaviour change through targeted personal incentives, such as GP prescribing, existing tax relief and regards programmes.

The following additional budgets were allocated to boroughs specifically for cycle training to supplement with own allocations from 2017/18 onwards.

Cycle training for children and families has received a record investment as the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed £20 million of funding for Bikeability to deliver its cycle training programme next year. (March 2022)

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that £69m per year will now go to boroughs to help them deliver even more School Streets.

This enables your company to provide cycles and or associated safety equipment to yourself and your employees effectively tax-free.

GREEN – 2 out of 2 = 100%

4.3 Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Buses and coaches

We will deliver the National Bus Strategy’s vision of a transformed bus industry and a green bus revolution

Bus services should be better integrated with other modes of transport – with more bus routes serving railway stations and improved integration with cycling and walking routes and networks – and provides a roadmap to decarbonise.

The Department for Transport has launched Bus Back Better: national bus strategy for England, outlining improvements to bus services across England. The strategy underlines the need to be better integrated with other modes –more bus routes serving railway stations, as is standard in most European countries, and integrating with cycling and walking routes and networks.

We will consult on modernising the Bus Service Operators’ Grant in 2021

To ensure that the funding stream is aligned with government priorities, in particular, benefitting the environment.

We plan to increase the rate at which the BSOG green incentive can be claimed for zero emission buses to 22p per km.

The government will analyse how it supports the bus industry beyond the end of the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) in England on 30 June 2023, Under-Secretary of State for Transport Baroness Vere told the House of Lords last Thursday.

Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) in England can be claimed against zero emission buses (ZEBs) at 22p per kilometre from 1 April, the government has announced. It represents a step towards promised wider overhaul of BSOG. (2022)

Transport Decarbonisation Plan Tracker Progress report two years on | June 2023

We will support delivery of 4,000 new zero emission buses and the infrastructure needed to support them

We will consider both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses when rolling out the 4,000 zero emission buses.

2021-22 we will invest up to £120 million in zero emission buses through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme. This is in addition to £50 million provided through the All-Electric Bus Town or City scheme.

Funding announced April 2022 of £200 million for almost 1,000 new electric or hydrogen buses, bringing the total funded in England under this government to 2,000.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (30 March 2021) launched a multimillion-pound scheme to enable local transport authorities to roll out zero emission buses as the government continues to build back greener. Up to £120 million is being made available through the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme.

We will deliver the first All-Electric Bus Town or City

The West Midlands Combined Authority has been awarded £50 million to replace the entire local operator bus fleet in Coventry with electric buses.

National Express West Midlands is investing £150 million in 300 UKmade electric zero emission buses, for delivery by the end of December 2024. The buses will be deployed across the West Midlands.

We are consulting on a phase out date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses

An initial consultation closed on 11 April 2021 and there will be a further consultation later this year.

The consultation has now been launched on an end to the sale of all combustion-engined buses and minibuses, with the aim for that to happen at some point between 2025 and 2032. The consultation doesn’t commit the government to action, but it is a required step before it can pass laws that would ban the sale of non-zero emission buses.

We will consult on a phase out date for the sale of new non-zero emission coaches

We want to understand the barriers the sector faces as well as the opportunities.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking feedback on proposals to progress ending the sale of new non-zero emission buses, coaches and minibuses.

Ran from 26 March to 21 May 2022.

4.4 Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Cars, vans, motorcycles, and scooters

We will consult on regulatory options, including zero emission vehicle mandates, to deliver petrol and diesel phase out dates for new vehicles.

We will conduct a review of progress towards the phase out dates by 2025, with a view to taking corrective action if required to ensure they are met.

We have published a zero emission cars and vans delivery plan

To give greater clarity on the pathway to the phase out dates for industry, we have published a 2035 Delivery Plan and we will conduct a review of progress towards the phase out dates by 2025, with a view to taking corrective action if required to ensure they are met.

Following the technical consultation on the design of the ZEV mandate for new cars and vans in June 2022 and the green paper on a new road vehicle CO2 regulatory framework in July 2021, we are now seeking views on the final proposed regulatory framework.

Review of progress not yet conducted but not due until 2025.

We will continue to support demand for zero emission vehicles through a package of financial and non-financial incentives

Will support drivers and industry make the transition to zero emission vehicles, government has put in place a package of measures.

The government is today (14 June 2022) closing the plug-in car grant scheme to focus funding towards the main barriers to the EV transition, including public charging and supporting the purchase of other road vehicles where the switch to electric requires further development.

We will consult this year on a phase out date of 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, for the sale of new non-zero emission powered two and three wheelers (and other L category vehicles)

We will deliver an action plan this year to build new UK opportunities for zero emission light powered vehicles

While cars and vans outnumber motorcycles on UK roads, motorcycles are an important and sizeable vehicle population, with 1.4 million licensed in 2020 and we do not want to see them remaining fossil fuelled as the rest of the vehicle fleet cleans up.

We will build on our existing support in this segment, such as with the plug-in motorcycle grant, to benefit urban logistics and wider mobility and look to grow a new UK industrial supply chain.

We will use Zemo Partnership’s strategic partnership with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) to stimulate and coordinate activity in this area and publish options to develop this at national and local level this year.

Outcome and response to the consultation on when to phase out the sale of new, non-zero emission HGVs

The PLV sector has launched its ‘Action Plan’ for Government and industry to help realise its full potential in decarbonising the UK’s transport sector. full potential in decarbonising the UK’s transport sector.

The Action Plan shows how, working together with industry, the Government can remove barriers, which will allow zero emission PLVs to become significant modes of transport and help ensure industry and consumers are able to fully harness the opportunities they present for the environment, congestion and as affordable personal mobility solutions.

We will lead by example with 25% of the government car fleet ultralow emission by December 2022 and 100% of the government car and van fleet zero emission by 2027

Government will ensure one in four of the central government car fleet is ultra-low emission by 2022 and achieving a fully zero emission car and van fleet by 2027.

The government is powering forward towards decarbonising its central car fleet, as it has been confirmed today (19 January 2023) that it hit its target in switching over a quarter of all its cars (25.5%) to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV).

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

We will ensure the UK’s charging infrastructure network meets the demands of its users

We will increasingly focus government efforts on putting in place a policy and regulatory framework that supports increased investment and competition whilst meeting the needs of consumers.

Official estimates suggest that by 2030 around a quarter of cars and vans, or some 10 million vehicles, will be electric. These vehicles will require at least 300,000 public charging points, a huge increase on the fewer than 25,000 points which existed at the end of last year. Some estimates peg the capital required at up to £18 billion by 2030. That figure – which covers charge point devices, site preparation and installation – does not include the costs of land, or investment in the grid, by operators of the distribution network.

Not meeting demand – November 2022

We will support and nurture innovation in the UK automotive sector

As announced as part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, nearly £500 million of funding for the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) will be made available in the next four years to invest in capital and R&D projects to build an internationally competitive electric vehicle supply chain.

The Government is providing a comprehensive package of support to facilitate this transition. Up to £1 billion to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chains at pace. The first £500 million of this through the Automotive Transformation Fund BEIS BEV005 (ATF) over the next four years. £1.3 billion over the next four years to support the continued roll-out of chargepoints on motorways and major roads, in homes and businesses and on-street. Government is also supporting the deployment of rapid chargepoints. Government has provided additional funding for the Plug-in Vehicle Grants, bringing the total to £582m and will incentivise consumers to transition to zero emission vehicles.

Note: There is no equivalent in rail.

We will invest £15 million in 2021/22 to help address the backlog in traffic signal maintenance to improve traffic flow and reduce emissions

We will review the National Networks National Policy Statement

£15 million of investment in 2021/22 will help highway authorities to make their signals working effectively again.

39 councils in England have been awarded a share of £15 million additional funding to upgrade and repair traffic signals, which will make traffic in their areas flow better, and therefore reduce air pollution and congestion.

Both cars and vans show the potential for relatively fast reductions in emission ahead of 2050, due to current efficiency measures, and the ability to build on the existing deployment of zero emission vehicles.

The review of the national networks national policy statement is being progressed as part of the government’s Nationally significant infrastructure projects action plan, which will ensure that the planning process for the development of projects is as clear and efficient as possible.

March 2023

4.5 Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Maritime

Commitment

We will plot a course to net zero for the UK domestic maritime sector, with indicative targets from 2030 and net zero as early as is feasible

Detailed proposals

We will establish, following public consultation in 2022, an ambitious ‘Course to Zero’.

Following consultation, we will establish ambitious indicative targets for the domestic maritime sector recognising that we have ground to make up, covering 2030 and onwards.

We will embed this course in our Clean Maritime Plan (CMP), as part of a planned review and refresh which is due to start in 2022 and include within the CMP the longterm interventions needed to achieve full decarbonisation.

We will consult on the potential for a planned phase out date for the sale of new non-zero emission domestic vessels

We will consult in mid-2022 upon the potential for long term decarbonisation to be accelerated through carefully designed, well signposted measures to phase out the sale of new, non-zero emission domestic vessels, building on the experiences of the steps being undertaken today in other modes of transport.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan Tracker

Progress report two years on | June 2023

Progress

Response to July 2022 Course to Zero consultation not yet published.

Measurable targets for both home and abroad are needed.

We urge ministers to bring forward the promised Clean Maritime Plan, which will give industry the certainty it needs to invest in technology. (Transport Committee criticises the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Maritime 2050 strategy 20 March 2023.)

The Department intends to publish a revised Clean Maritime Plan in 2023. This plan will set out the next steps to decarbonising the maritime sector. (February 2023)

July to October 2022 consultation took place. Government response has not yet been published.

RIA Rating

We will assess how economic instruments could be used to accelerate the decarbonisation of the domestic maritime sector

Building on the work undertaken in Maritime 2050, the Clean Maritime Plan, and the Department’s published research, we will further investigate the use of economic instruments to drive sectoral decarbonisation.

Closed consultation on Domestic maritime decarbonisation: the course to net zero emissions. The government response has not yet been published.

We will accelerate the development of zero emission technology and infrastructure in the UK

We have recently launched a £20 million funding package – the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) – to support and accelerate research, design and development of zero emission technology and infrastructure solutions for maritime and accelerate decarbonisation. The CMDC will run for a year from March 2021 and will provide support to projects that contribute to both reducing emissions in the near term and demonstrating how the sector can transition to net zero operations.

We will explore the establishment of a UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK-SHORE). This is a dedicated unit within the Department for Transport focused on decarbonising the maritime sector.

Tankers, cruise ships, ports and the wider maritime sector could play their part in slashing emissions and boosting economic growth thanks to £60 million of funding for the UK maritime industry.

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £12 million for innovative clean maritime technologies. This funding is from The Department for Transport. (July 2022 competition closed)

The first of a series of packages launched as part of the implementation of UK SHORE. (May 2022) Note: There is no equivalent in rail.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

We will consult this year on the appropriate steps to support and, if needed, mandate the uptake of shore power in the UK

We will consult in winter 2021 on how government can support the wider deployment of shore power, including consideration of regulatory interventions, for both vessels and ports, that could drive deployment as we transition to a net zero world, and bring forward appropriate measures.

This document summarises the responses to the Department for Transport’s call for evidence on shore power, which ran between 7 February 2022 and 25 April 2022.

We will extend the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to support renewable fuels of nonbiological origin used in shipping

We consulted in March 2021, on a potential expansion of the RTFO to include some advanced maritime fuels in order to support their deployment. We recently announced that we will make renewable fuels of non-biological origin used in shipping eligible for incentives under the RTFO.

Internationally, the UK will press for greater ambition during the 2023 review of the International Maritime Organisation Initial Greenhouse Gas Strategy and urge accelerated decarbonisation

We will ensure we have the right information to regulate emissions, and to judge the effectiveness of the steps we are taking in the UK and at the IMO

We will promote close alignment with the Paris temperature goals and challenge the international community to deliver on the IMO initial strategy commitment to ‘phase out’ emissions from the international sector as soon as possible.

We will review, and if appropriate amend, the operation of the UK’s existing monitoring, reporting and verification system for greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, to ensure it is fit for purpose and delivering the information we need to decarbonise the maritime sector.

We will keep the measurement approach to the UK’s international shipping emissions under review and consider the appropriateness of fuel or activity-based measures. Additionally, we will consider how similar information can be collected for the domestic fleet, in order to provide a better evidence base for future policy interventions.

Consultation outcome on Amending the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) to increase carbon savings on land, air and at sea.

This statutory instrument amends The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Order 2007 (SI2007/3072) and aims to increase the supply of renewable transport fuels. Note – Applies also to rail.

The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee is expected to adopt a revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at its 80th meeting in July 2023.

Unable to see whether ‘appropriate amends’ where necessary.

New mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of international shipping have been adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), setting shipping on a course to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets established in the 2018 Initial IMO Strategy for Reducing GHG Emissions from Ships.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan Tracker

Progress report two years on | June 2023

4.6 Transport Decarbonisation Plan: Aviation

Commitment

We will consult on our Jet Zero strategy, which will set out the steps we will take to reach net zero aviation emissions by 2050

Set out our approach to accelerating efficiency improvements of aircraft, airports and airspace, positioning the UK as a global leader in zero emission flight and SAF, and will explore how we can support consumers to make more sustainable travel choices when flying.

Policy paper Jet Zero investment flightpath

The Royal Air Force has successfully completed a Voyager air-to-air refuelling flight, powered by an approximately 43% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

We will consult on a target for UK domestic aviation to reach net zero by 2040

We will consider whether UK domestic aviation should aim to achieve net zero earlier than the UK’s share of international aviation emissions, which could support our wider ambitions by driving innovation and early technology adoption in the UK.

In our Jet Zero consultation published in July 2021, we proposed a target for all airport operations (Scopes 1 and 2 as described in ‘the target’ section) in England to be zero emissions by 2040. We received over 1,400 responses to the consultation, with mixed feedback on the airport target.

We will consult on a target for decarbonising emissions from airport operations in England by 2040

Several airports including Manchester and Gatwick have already achieved carbon neutrality; and many are now setting more ambitious targets, including Bristol, which is aiming for net zero emissions by 2030. We will consult on introducing an ambitious target across all airports.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation on its target for all airport operations in England to be zero emission by 2040.

We are supporting the development of new and zero carbon UK aircraft technology through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme

The ATI Programme provides £150 million of funding per year, matched by industry, for mid-stage collaborative R&D projects from 2013 to 2026.

This includes the ATI led FlyZero study – the first essential step in setting out a detailed plan for how the UK might best contribute to a zero emission aircraft by 2030. As of May 2021, 327 R&D projects valued over £2.9 billion involving 352 unique organisations (including 218 SMEs) have been supported by the UK Government through the ATI Programme.

The ATI Programme funds industrial research and investment aid for research infrastructures to make the UK civil aerospace sector more competitive.

Competition closes: Friday 18 November 2022

Note: There is no equivalent in rail.

We will fund zero emission flight infrastructure R&D at UK airports

We will invest £3 million in 2021/22 through the Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure programme to accelerate R&D into infrastructure requirements at airports and airfields to handle new forms of zero emission aircraft.

Zero emission flight infrastructure has received £3 million of Government funding for research into electric and hydrogen aircraft.

Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

We will kick-start commercialisation of UK sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)

We are putting in place a comprehensive policy framework that could enable greater SAF uptake than is accounted for within the CCC’s Balanced Pathway if the market develops quickly.

We will invest £3 million to establish a SAF clearing house, to enable the UK to certify new fuels, driving innovation in this space.

We will consult on a UK sustainable aviation fuels mandate

In 2021 we will consult on a SAF mandate to blend greener fuels into kerosene, which will create marketled demand for these alternative fuels.

To drive decarbonisation within the UK’s aviation sector and the growth of SAF in the UK, we confirmed in July 2022 that we would introduce a SAF mandate in 2025 requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030.

The University of Sheffield has been chosen to be the home of the UK’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel Clearing House, as part of new government investment to help decarbonise transport.

Consultation outcome reached Mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK March 2023

We will support UK airspace modernisation

We will support airspace modernisation to deliver quicker, quieter, and cleaner journeys, alongside annual carbon savings of up to 0.6 MtCO2e (based on 2019 figures), for the benefit of those who use and are affected by UK airspace.

The CAA’s updated Airspace Modernisation Strategy, due to be consulted on later in 2021, will provide further detail. Meanwhile, the government is providing up to £5.5 million funding in the years 2020/21 and 2021/22 to ensure the programme remains on track through the global pandemic.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority published its refreshed Airspace Modernisation Strategy in January 2023, setting out a vision for the future of UK airspace which will help deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys, as well as create more capacity.

Airspace Modernisation – 2022 Progress

Report

Government commits funding to build back better and greener in our skies

Today’s (January 2022) £3.7 million in new funding brings the total funding to £9.2 million, after an initial round of investment in March 2021.

We will further develop the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to help accelerate aviation decarbonisation

We will look to improve the system for aviation, for example by reviewing the sector’s free allocation in line with the commitment to a net zero consistent ETS cap trajectory, exploring whether to expand the pollutants covered, and determining how the UK ETS will interact with the global offsetting scheme for aviation, CORSIA.

Consultation outcome Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Published: 25 March 2022

Last updated: 31 August 2022

We will work with industry to accelerate the adoption of innovative zero emission aircraft and aviation technology in General Aviation

We will aim to agree an ambitious long-term global emissions reduction goal in the International Civil Aviation Organization by 2022

General Aviation refers to the operation of non-scheduled commercial and leisure flights.

A long-term climate goal for international aviation through the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is consistent with the global temperature goals of the Paris Agreement, remains a top priority. We will build on the success of CORSIA to negotiate for the adoption of an ambitious goal by ICAO’s next Assembly in 2022.

GREEN – 11 out of 11 = 100%

Plans to speed up the design, manufacture, and rollout of zero emission aircraft and infrastructure at UK airports. 17 April 2023

Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, adopted almost unanimously a new long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG). In international aviation, the aim is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.