Transport

Transport emissions, including international aviation and shipping, accounted for 24.4 per cent of total Scottish emissions in 2006.

In 2006, road transport contributed the greatest amount of transport emissions, 10.5 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (70 per cent)

Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

Transport is one of the main offenders when it comes to climate change. But transport systems also underpin economic and social success, and can help to address problems around health and inequalities. Focus must be on achieving the most sustainable and beneficial results for Scotland, whilst minimising emissions and other negative impacts. Currently transport policy is the policy area with the least alignment between current action and long term objectives.

In our second assessment of progress on sustainable development policy in the Scottish Government (2008) we considered the sustainability of transport policy and concluded that:

Between 2008-11 road expenditure is set to increase while public transport spend remains static in real terms. Continuation of road focused transport policies could lock Scotland into a high carbon transport future that makes achievement of the Government’s climate change commitments significantly more difficult
The commitment to publish a carbon balance sheet for major transport projects is to be welcomed, providing as it does, a clear indication of the impacts of individual projects and their cumulative impact. However there must be clearer evidence that the balance sheet and other transport appraisal tools are used to guide transport policy along more sustainable lines
Because of the contested nature of the costs and benefits of aviation, Government is not in a position to make decisions on additional airport capacity for Scotland
Increases in support for active travel (walking and cycling) and for rail/sea freight are welcome. The scale of support still remains low in terms of the Transport Budget, and further reallocation of funds from road to more sustainable means is required over time.

We are currently engaging with the Scottish Government on a variety of issues around sustainable transport. We recently wrote to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee to inform them of the progress of our work. The letter can be found here.

» Find out more about how small-scale, local transport measures can reduce congestion and emissions at Transform Scotland's 'Smarter Ways Forward'

» Scottish Government consultation on the cycling action plan