§ Lord Clinton-Davisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the assessment made by the Commission of the European Communities that road transport is responsible for three-quarters of carbon dioxide emissions and, if so, what action both at national and EC level they propose should be taken to arrest the dangers.
The Earl of CaithnessIn their recently published White Paper on transport, the Commission indicates that road transport is responsible for over 79 per cent. of carbon dioxide emissions by the transport sector. This assessment relates to the Community as a whole and we have no reason to disagree. In the Green Paper on transport and the environment published earlier this year, the Commission indicated that the transport sector was responsible for about 22 per cent. of total Community carbon dioxide emissions. At a national level, we have published a consultation document of the options for a UK programme of measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Within the European Community there are a number of relevant 29WA initiatives under consideration, in particular, the proposal for a carbon/energy tax and the options for improving the fuel efficiency of new cars.