Scottish Government

8. Transport

8.1 Emissions - Transport

Transport (excluding international aviation and shipping) was responsible for emissions of 12.7 MtCO ₂e in 2006, i.e. 21.5% of Scottish emissions and 13.5% higher than the international baseline set in the 1990s ²⁴. An estimate of Scottish GHG emissions from international aviation and shipping for 2006 is 2.3 MtCO ₂e. This represents a joint increase from the early 1990s of 19% ²⁵, with international aviation increasing by 184% (the aviation total includes international journeys departing directly from Scotland but not transits via other UK airports)). These figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge in reducing transport emissions.

8.2 National Transport Strategy

The National Transport Strategy ( NTS), published in 2006, set out three key strategic outcomes: (i) improved journey times and connections, (ii) reduced emissions and (iii) improved quality, accessibility and affordability. A NTS Delivery Plan ²⁶ has been produced which sets out the policies and initiatives which the Scottish Government, regional transport partnerships, local authorities and other stakeholders will take forward to achieve the strategic outcomes.

Scottish Government policy is to change travel behaviour towards more active and sustainable options and to reduce the social, economic and environmental costs associated with daily travel e.g. by shifting to public transport, walking and cycling. The Scottish Government provides over £1 billion annual support to concessionary fares, bus services and major public transport projects.

Our investment in transport aims for an integrated transport system and a shift towards more sustainable travel. We are investing in public transport infrastructure that tackles congestion, improves connectivity, reduces journey times, encourages people out of their cars and, therefore, reduces emissions. We are building new rail lines, investing in strategic road links and improving the bus network. We are promoting other forms of sustainable travel such as cycling and walking to enable everyone to play their part.

We are working with local authorities and companies to develop and deliver more sustainable transport through activity across a number of areas to improve efficiency and reduce transport emissions in the longer term. And we are supporting manufacturers such as Alexander Dennis in Falkirk, and Allied Vehicles in Glasgow to enable them to bring low carbon buses, electric taxis and vans to the market.

8.3 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places - Transport Case Study

We are looking for innovative measures in our efforts to encourage people to make the switch to more sustainable modes of transport. £15 million (£10m Scottish Government and £5m local authority funding) is being invested between 2008-2011 to create seven sustainable transport demonstration communities as part of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme. Initiatives will include new proposals such as a bike library in central Dundee and a car-free community centre in Kirkintilloch, as well as targeted transport advice to commuters, improved cycle and pedestrian routes and free trial bus and train travel.

Carbon savings through reductions in car use are a key theme in Smarter Choices, Smarter Places. Final results from the Sustainable Travel Demonstration Towns programme in England indicate that reductions in local car use of between 8 and 10% have been achieved in Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester between 2004 and 2009

The seven Scottish project areas selected for the demonstration programme vary widely in car ownership, ranging from 88% in Lenzie to 27% in Glasgow East End. This means that the challenge in some areas will be to divert existing journeys to sustainable modes, while in others the aim is to prevent the build up of car usage for short local journeys

All of the projects will improve local facilities alongside the promotion of walking, cycling and public transport use, in settings ranging from island communities to inner cities, each with distinct local issues.

For example, in Orkney, the initial intention is for a 7% reduction in passenger kilometres, resulting in a reduction of almost 3,500 tonnes of CO ₂/year. This will be accomplished through a diverse package of measures aiming to address barriers alongside promoting behaviour change and improving the provision of travel information.

Although Kirkwall has comparatively high levels of walking and cycling (33% and 4% respectively), car usage levels are high given that most of the working population live within three miles of their place of work.

Local research has been commissioned on the cultural reasons why car usage is high in Orkney. This will be undertaken to help shape the promotional strategy in Kirkwall, and the results will be of interest in other island communities.

In Barrhead in East Renfrewshire, the aim is to shift approximately 5% of journeys from the car to more sustainable modes. Improvements to paths and road crossings, access to open space, cycle facilities and bus infrastructure will be carried out alongside information and promotional campaigns aimed at school children, employees. Personalised journey planning will be provided to Barrhead residents, employing local people who are trained in communicating about sustainable travel choices and knowledgeable about the available options.

The impact of this work in each of the seven project locations will be studied in the monitoring and evaluation of Smarter Choices, Smarter Places. As well as direct measurements of walking, cycling, public transport and car use before and after the project work, the national monitoring programme includes 12,000 door-to door surveys and travel diaries and 4000 telephone surveys to explore changing attitudes and probe for impact on travel choices. Results from this baseline monitoring will be used to fine-tune the work carried out in the second and third years of the programme.

Lessons from Smarter Choices, Smarter Places will help local authorities throughout Scotland identify successful and cost effective ways to reduce local car use.

8.4 Eco-Driving

Alongside the improvements in public transport and promotion of walking and cycling to encourage people out their cars, we recognise that there will continue to be a need for private transport. The important thing will be for people to be in a position to make the most informed and appropriate choice for each journey. Where private car is the chosen option, the negative economic and environmental impacts can be reduced through their efficient use, be it eco-driving or car sharing. An Eco-driving campaign was launched in January 2009, managed by the Energy Saving Trust ²⁷.

8.5 Carbon Account for Transport

In the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 a commitment was made to ensure that public spending across portfolios contributes to the action needed to meet emissions targets. The Carbon Account for Transport (previously referred to as the Carbon Balance Sheet) is under development and will be used as a tool to monitor and review progress towards the NTS strategic outcome of 'reduced emissions'. Showing the level of greenhouse gas emissions, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, of the Scottish transport sector over time, the CAT is intended to be a tool to report the background emissions level from transport in Scotland and the marginal impact of significant new transport interventions. Progress on the development of the CAT was presented to the National Transport Strategy Stakeholder Group in March 2009 with a view to it being finalised by 2010.

8.6 National Performance Indicator

We have a National Indicator to increase the proportion of journeys to work by public or active transport ²⁸. The latest figures show that rail figures in Scotland are at their highest level for more than 40 years, and bus use is also on the increase. But due to an increase in travel overall, there is evidence that car kilometres also continue to increase. The percentage of adults travelling to work by car or van rose from 67.1% in 2006 to 69.0% in 2007.

8.7 Strategic Transport Projects Review

A Strategic Transport Projects Review ( STPR) was carried out during 2007-08 and the outcome announced in December 2008 ²⁹. This sets out the national, strategic, land-based transport priorities for investment that will contribute to Government's Purpose of increased sustainable economic growth over the medium to long term. The STPR is the first nationwide, multi-modal, evidence based appraisal process undertaken in Scotland and provides the basis on which Ministers' will make informed decisions about future transport spending beyond the current programme.

8.8 Aviation

The Committee on Climate Change has predicted that, even taking account of substantial improvements in future aviation efficiency (40-50% by 2025), if unchecked, UK international aviation emissions could account for 35% of the UK's permitted CO ₂ emissions by 2050. The target within the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill of an 80% cut in Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 applies collectively across all sectors of the economy, including both domestic and international aviation. The Scottish Government recognises that, if aviation emissions are not reduced, more effort will have to be made on emissions reduction in other sectors.

The Scottish Government considers that good air links support Scotland's economy, including the tourism industry, and perform a very important social function, particularly in the Highlands and Islands. We are therefore pursuing a balanced approach to policy which recognises the economic, social and environmental impact of aviation in Scotland. Where practical and lower emitting alternatives to flying exist, we would encourage people to use these. We also welcome the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012, which will introduce a cap on carbon emissions, requiring airlines in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe to pursue more efficient operations or pay for the additional emission allowances they require. There is a finite and reducing number of allowances available, so total emissions will be driven down across Europe.

8.9 Vehicle Technology

The European Union aims that average emissions from new passenger cars will be reduced to 130 grammes per kilometre by 2012. In addition, it is considering setting a legally binding target that average emissions should fall to 95 gCO ₂/km by 2020. The Committee on Climate Change has also recommended the gradual replacement of petrol cars with electric cars and increased electricity generation for transport. A consultation on lower carbon vehicles is planned for summer 2009.

8.10 Building the resilience of our strategic transport networks

In the face of a changing climate it is critical that we are able to maintain and safely operate our strategic transport network on both road and rail. Transport Scotland commissioned a Landslide Study to provide a comprehensive picture of the future risk of landslides in Scotland and the evidence required to properly plan for and manage that risk. Since the Study's findings were published in 2005, Transport Scotland has been working to implement the design, operational and research-related actions that came out of the Study. Considerable progress has been made in addressing the impacts associated with the predicted effects of climate change on the Scottish road network, with 19 of the Study's original 28 recommendations now complete or progressing.

8.11 Renewables and Transport

The proposed Renewable Energy Directive sets a 10% target for renewables from transport (restricted to those modes that currently use either petrol or diesel) by 2020 as part of the 20% renewables target. This effectively excludes aviation and shipping, although renewable energy used in these sectors would count towards the target, as would electrified railways. The proposed Directive also provides for sustainability criteria for biofuels. The two main transport issues to consider in terms of renewables here, therefore, are biofuels and alternative technologies such as electric or hydrogen cars.

8.12 Committee on Climate Change Advice

The Committee on Climate Change has advised that significant emission cuts could be achieved through improved fuel efficiency of new cars and vans, changed driver behaviour, modal shift and better journey planning.

8.13 Achievements 2008-09:

• Scotland is investing £840/917/897 million - totaling £2.654 billion - over three years (2008-2011) in public transport projects.
• An additional £61.2m per annum to support bus services (2008 - 2011).
• £2.9 million per year for transport information including Traveline Scotland and Transport Direct.
• £33 million over 3 years for active and sustainable travel. This funding supports the seven sustainable demonstration towns under the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places. In addition funding is provided to other organisations, including:-
• • Sustrans to complete the National Cycle Network and help tackle the school run;
  • Cycling Scotland for promotion of cycling
  • Energy Saving Trust to provide consumers and businesses advice on eco-driving, Green Fleet Reviews and Travel Plans; and
  • Regional Transport Partnerships to work with Local Authorities and Health Boards to develop and implement Smarter Choices
• £9.09 million to local authorities for cycling, walking, safer streets projects.
• £1 million to Paths for All for promotion and encouragement of walking
• £0.2 million per annum to Living Streets for community street audits and promotion
• The Renewable Energy Framework, published in October 2008, proposes an increase in the use of renewable fuels for transport, from less than 1% to 10% to reduce carbon emissions.
• On 10 December 2008, Ministers set out a multi-billion pound transport blueprint to grow Scotland's economy in the Strategic Transport Projects Review ( STPR), which sets out the future investment programme for transport in Scotland over the next 20 years - the biggest and most ambitious Scottish transport plan ever published, including:
• • The existing Forth road bridge will be made a dedicated public transport only corridor.
  • A new rail station at Gogar created to integrate with the Edinburgh tram network and provide onward connection for passengers using Edinburgh Airport.
  • Electrification of rail network.
  • Major enhancements to Edinburgh-Glasgow line reducing journey time to 35 minutes.
  • Improvements to rail services in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Perth and Fife.
• The Scottish Government's proposed second National Planning Framework ( NPF) recommended that a high-speed rail link between Scotland and London be included in the list of national developments.
• The Climate Change (Scotland) Bill targets will include international aviation and shipping.
• On 15 January 2009 the Energy Saving Trust Scotland launched its eco-driving campaign, which could save up to £300 million per year in motorists' fuel costs and 800,000 tonnes of CO ₂, the equivalent of taking 275,000 cars off the road for a year.