LowCVP Annual Conference 2020: Decarbonising the transport sector

Transport secretary Grant Shapps to speak at The LowCVP Annual Conference 2020 on July 15.

The event, which is taking place online this year, provides a forum for policy ideas and proposals to help inform the Government's Transport Decarbonisation Plan, due to be published this year.

Other speakers include: Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission; Dimitri Zenghelis, senior associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership; Melanie Lane, chief executive at Shell New Motion; Carlos Rodrigues, managing director of Renault Trucks UK & Ireland; and Kevin Chowings, managing director of NatWest Future Mobility Group.

LowCVP Managing Director, Andy Eastlake said: “This is a critical moment for the road transport sector which has a key part to play in the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“Decarbonising the sector is one of the biggest challenges we face, but we could be on the verge of major change with the electrification of cars and vans gathering pace and signs of progress – though still many challenges – in larger commercial vehicle and longer-haul applications.

“The Government is consulting right now on the phase-out – by 2035 or earlier - of cars and vans with an internal combustion engine and promises to publish a Transport Decarbonisation Plan by Christmas. We want to be able to show the rest of the world what can be done for CoP26 in Glasgow in November next year.

“The Committee on Climate Change rightly concluded that decarbonisation of our economy has to be accelerated and we need some more practical and effective policies to achieve this. Our annual conference will focus discussions on many of the policy measures that will be required.”

The conference comes as leasing companies report a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EVs), thanks to generous benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates for plug-in company cars. 

The LowCVP Annual Conference has been a leading event in the environmental transport calendar for over 15 years, involving senior stakeholders from across government and auto/energy industries, including academia, other governmental organisations, NGOs and others.

This year’s event is sponsored by Shell Recharge and DPD.

Access the full conference agenda here. General delegate bookings can be made at: www.lowcvp.org.uk/events/conference/2020.