The UK Climate Change Committee was set up under the Climate Change Act 2008 with a remit to advise on carbon budgets to 2050.  Its first report, published at the beginning of December, argues that an 80% carbon reduction target for the UK is appropriate, feasible and affordable.  This would involve almost complete decarbonisation of electricity generation and extension of electricity to a wider range of end uses, including transport.  The Committee believes there is significant potential for behavioural change but not sufficient to make this an alterantive to radical improvement in energy efficiency and investment in low carbon energy sources.  

Chapter 7 deals with reducing domestic transport emissions. Electric vehicles are likely to be a feasible route for a dramatic reduction in emissions from cars and light vans. On the Committee's most ambitious scenario, carbon reductions of  32Mt CO2 could be achieved by 2020 (compared with the current total for the domestic transport sector of 130Mt), of which about a third would come from behavioural change.   Half of this component is attributed to limiting speeds to 60mph, and the rest to ecodriving and 'Smarter Choices' type measures.

The Committee's first report is an important source of independent and authoritative information and analysis on climate change and what could be done to mitigate the consequences of growing carbon emissions.   The Committee plans to look further at transport demand next year.  Arguably, there is scope for a more insightful approach than that adopted thus far.