Just over a month on from the House of Lords Climate Change Committee launching an electric vehicle enquiry, the Petrol Retailer’s Association (PRA) has commented, saying it is “increasingly sceptical” about the UK’s ability to hit net zero by 2050.
The statement reads:
“The PRA is supportive of the need to decarbonise the economy and achieve Net Zero, but we are increasingly sceptical of the country’s ability to do so in the defined time period given that certain targets are not being met. We are pleased to see the House of Lords Climate Change Committee engaging on this subject, and the PRA has duly submitted a response that we hope they will find helpful.
“Retailers need more clarity concerning timeframes and how realistically they can be achieved, given how far behind we are on our infrastructure targets. PRA members support decarbonisation but recognise the need for more realistic interim measures that would gauge our progress towards it.
“We will continue to engage with the Government on this issue as the country continues its path towards decarbonisation.”
Net zero would see the UK’s carbon dioxide output balanced out by carbon removal activities, and achieving that will involve drastic changes in many aspects of our lives, transportation included. For those on two wheels, if the UK is to mirror EU plans, it means a ban on the sale of new petrol-powered mopeds by 2030, and new petrol-fuelled motorcycles by 2035.
The inquiry from the House of Lords aims to “understand how the Government will achieve its target of decarbonising cars and vans in the UK, with a particular focus on passenger cars, as well as exploring the main barriers to doing so”. As well as canvassing the opinion of the public, the inquiry will also speak to “industry, local authorities, and all others with an interest in decarbonising transport”.
As for the biking world’s take on the 2035 deadline, the National Motorcyclists Council has previously said it “does not support arbitrary UK-only targets for ending the sale of new non-zero emission motorcycles and believes that the UK should instead move towards net-zero goals on the basis of internationally agreed targets and strategies.”
