After figures this week highlighted air pollution blackspots in several high-density urban traffic areas, a climate change policy update suggested a range of positive incentives to reduce vehicle emissions, including investing in more electrical charge points, supporting out-of-town distribution depots and using procurement conditions to modernise public transport.
The paper also proposes the “stick” of introducing a pilot low emission zone (LEZ) by next year, with others expected to follow.
It is likely to follow the model of the LEZ introduced in London almost a decade ago, which imposes a daily charge on heavy-emission buses, trucks and SUVs, with hefty penalties for those who fail to pay the levy. A number of English authorities impose similar rules on bus operators.
While Scotland has pre-empted its 2020 climate change target by achieving a 42% reduction in emissions, doubts have been cast on its likely progress towards longer-term targets. The new draft Climate Change Plan aims to reduce emissions by 6% by 2032.
