Decarbonising UK Transport: Final Report and Technology Roadmaps
15 Jul 2021
The report sets out a series of 7 technological roadmaps to reduce and remove direct emissions from the UK's domestic transport by 2050.
To inform the UK Government’s 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan, this research sets out a series of seven roadmaps for decarbonising domestic transport in the UK. These roadmaps address: cars and light goods vehicles; buses; coaches; heavy goods vehicles; rail; domestic shipping; and domestic aviation.
den-belitsky/Adobe Stock
In June 2019 the UK government committed to a net-zero contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Net zero refers to when the amount of carbon emissions produced are cancelled out by the amount removed and a balance is achieved.
Direct (tailpipe) emissions from domestic transport represent over a quarter of UK greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest single source, 99 per cent of which is comprised of carbon dioxide (CO2).
To help prepare its 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) the UK government needed to understand what research and innovation investment was needed to provide – in the near and medium term – to develop technologies to help deliver a decarbonised transport system by 2050.
To support the development of the TDP, the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned RAND Europe, along with lead partners Mott MacDonald, SYSTRA, the University of the West of England and the School of International Futures, to examine technological solutions for reducing and removing CO2 at point of use across all modes for domestic transport.
This began with an extensive review of literature to examine and develop a synthesis of understanding concerning the progress and potential of different technology solutions for decarbonising transport across different modes.
A roadmapping exercise then followed in which a set of seven decarbonising roadmaps addressing different modes of transport – cars and light goods vehicles; buses; coaches; heavy goods vehicles; rail; domestic shipping; and domestic aviation – was evolved in conjunction with engagement with policymakers and experts.
The roadmapping study and resulting report help to provide a whole-sector view of the challenges, opportunities and requirements facing transport, and the key actors and agents of change, on the road to decarbonisation.
By drawing together a picture across the transport sector, this study has informed the UK Government’s TDP and the decisions therein. The roadmaps set out recommended research and innovation interventions that need to be progressed in the coming five to ten years. The roadmaps also consider the recommended role of policymaking and fiscal or regulatory measures in helping to enable progress.
Charlene Rohr
Glenn Lyons (Mott MacDonald, Lead)
Andrew Curry (School of International Futures)