PLANET BEFORE PROFITS

The recent publication of the Stern report into climate change has brought home the serious threat that global warming represents to the planet. As the report says: “The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response”. Stern explains that without a fundamental shift in environmental practice we face the risk of “major disruptions to economic social activity later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century”. The report warns that, without urgent action, floods could displace 100 million people worldwide, melting glaciers could lead to water shortages for one in six people and droughts could create millions of “climate refugees”. TRANSPORT In 2005, transport’s share of carbon emissions in the UK was around 25 per cent, with the vast majority of coming from the private car. Moreover, the 189 million passengers that used UK airports in 2002 is projected to increase to between 350 million and 460 million by 2020. Given Stern’s warnings, it is self-evident the government must take steps to control the free market in transport that is threatening to ruin the environment. RMT argues that expansion of environmentally sustainable forms of public transport – principally rail, bus and shipping – and extra investment is required. Yet, judging by Environment minister David Miliband’s recent performance at TUC Congress this year, the message is yet to get through. RMT delegate Priscilla Dada told the minister that the union had commissioned an opinion poll which shows that two- thirds of people believe that more money should be invested in public transport for the sake of the environment. “If we are serious about greening Britain and reducing harmful emissions, then railways must be a key part of the solution. “So is it not time that we took some serious steps towards making rail travel attractive, affordable and available to all?” she asked the minister. His answer was illuminating to say the least. “I was absolutely dreading a question about transport because I do not know anything about transport. Do we need to make the railways affordable and attractive? Yes. How do we do it? I do not know,” he said rather sheepishly. INFORMING THE DEBATE Rail currently accounts for around six per cent of all transport journeys. However, the mooted introduction of road- user charging schemes is likely to see an increase in demand for rail services. Transport specialist Professor Phil Goodwin argues that, because public transport use is so low, even small increases in usage have a large impact on the need for public transport. For instance, if road-user charging was to lead to an increase of only three per cent in rail use this would mean a 50 per cent increase in the demand for rail services for an extra 500 million passengers. Currently, Britain does not have sufficient rail capacity to absorb the effects of a road pricing policy designed to reduce carbon emissions. BILL As a result, the government’s forthcoming Climate Change Bill should provide a real change in the economics and priorities in current transport policies. In order to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, airport expansion and motorway widening should be ditched and replaced with investment in trains, trams, buses, cycle lanes, shipping and canal use. Regular carbon reduction targets should also be set in the transport sector. It is widely accepted that air travel does more harm to the environment than other modes of transport. For instance, recent research by Eurostar has revealed that passengers who fly between London, Paris and Brussels generate ten times more emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide than travellers who go by rail. Preferable modes of transport can also be made more environmentally friendly. For instance, in the rail sector, the use of regenerative breaking could be developed and new rolling stock should be more energy efficient. The Eddington Review should also support the development of the North-South high speed rail link in order to reduce the number of environmentally damaging domestic short-haul flights. The key, of course, will be to develop the political will for these crucial changes in the way we travel to become a reality. RMTnews :: december 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 10 PLANET BEFORE PROFITS RMT calls for a change in transport policy to deal with global warming Facts for thought... Road transport contributes over 21 per cent of UK carbon emissions Road transport emissions are predicted to rise by 30 per cent from 1990 to 2020 Traffic is predicted to grow 40 per cent from 1990 to 2025 Traffic growth will massively outstrip CO2 cuts from 'greener fuels' and more efficient engines