Fleets call for ‘fast-track’ action on air pollution

A group of transport businesses and organisations, including DPD and Lime, are calling for the UK government to fast-track action on air pollution from vehicles.

In partnership with environmental law charity ClientEarth, the group has written to the Chancellor outlining a four-point plan that it believes will "deliver a resilient economy and benefit the planet and people’s health".

The call follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of a Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which includes a ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030.

Dominic Phinn, who leads business engagement on air pollution at ClientEarth, said: “The government has announced a slew of ambitious reforms to tackle the climate and air pollution crises. Businesses now want to see if this is going to be backed up by a clear roadmap with incentives, regulation and funding. This would allow them invest in cleaner forms of transport with confidence.”

The group’s four-point plan includes:  

• A mobility credit scheme to incentivise people to switch from an older polluting vehicle to a cleaner form of transport, such as zero emission exhaust vehicles (ZEEVs)
• Increased funding for businesses developing technologies that support a zero-emission transport system
• Measures that would incentivise the uptake of cleaner vehicles until they reach cost-parity with petrol and diesel counterparts, such as a time-limited VAT rebate or exemption
• A long-term plan for delivering ZEEV infrastructure, to accompany the £1.3bn announced in the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan

The group says the plan would help provide a roadmap for the period between now and the 2030 ban.

Phinn added: “We need to be honest: some businesses are opposing the inevitable direction of travel. But there is also broad appetite in the UK business community to fight against the negative impacts of air pollution. This action plan has real teeth and if the government takes it up, businesses will have the clarity they need to move forward with the transition.”

The signatories to the open letter are: DPD, UPS UK, LeasePlan, Lime, Osprey Charging, Liberty Charge, Dennis Eagle, Ricardo, Volta Trucks, Octopus EV, CMS Supatrak, The British Retail Consortium, The Westminster Commission on Road Air Quality, Global Action Plan and ClientEarth.