Transport Carbon Dioxide Reduction Strategy

The overall aim of this strategy is to calculate the CO2 emissions from our road transport network and assess the possible emission reduction which could be achieved if various measures were used and supported through the Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3).

It can be used as a tool to inform strategies, policies and the decision-making processes involved in the development and implementation of the LTP3.

It will also provide a vehicle to:

• assess progress in CO2 reduction within the transport sector
• identify gaps in data
• support projects which could be used to gather further information and to reduce the sources of CO2 from the transport network

There are 2 principles for this strategy:

1. To ensure that the current road transport network is used as efficiently as possible.
2. To allow plans to be made to decarbonise the current transport network and provide a range of viable sustainable transport options.

The benefits of a more efficient and sustainable transport network are numerous and potentially far reaching. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, efficient, sustainable transport networks can also provide:

• financial benefits through reduced use of fuel and improved use of resources
• reduced congestion
• improved journey times
• increased support of the local economy
• better air quality
• health benefits
• reduced congestion and an overall improved environment

The calculations for the strategy have been made using the best available information, using vehicle kilometres, emission factors, vehicle splits, surveys and various estimates and assumptions to allow the calculations to be made.

The calculated carbon emissions have been compared with centrally produced statistics for Derbyshire, which showed that local calculations resulted in higher estimated CO2 emissions than those produced centrally, approximately 10% higher. This difference is due to the different methodologies employed in the calculations.

However, since the objective is to provide an overview of the relative scales of the different transport CO2 emission sources and their potential reduction, this difference is not as important as the comparative magnitude of the sources and reductions detailed.

If anyone has any comments about the methodology used, or ideas for further development of the work, please contact:

LTP Policy and Programmes
Derbyshire County Council
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AG

email: integratedtransport@derbyshire.gov.uk