FTA Ireland welcomes public consultation on carbon reduction
Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) has welcomed the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport’s (DTTAS) decision to launch a public consultation on carbon reduction in the transport sector.
The Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly TD, announced the public consultation process on the preparation of a Low Carbon Roadmap for the Transport Sector, which is said to be in anticipation of obligations proposed under the Climate Change Action and Low Carbon Bill.
The consultation will seek the views of the public to develop Irish Transport’s low carbon roadmap to 2050. Neil McDonnell, FTA Ireland General Manager, said: “We are delighted at the DTTAS announcement, as FTA Ireland has been actively assisting its members to reduce their carbon footprint since 2010, when we introduced our Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS). We will be making a submission to the consultation, and in 2014 will intensify efforts to help reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector.”
The transport sector accounts for 27% of the non-ets emissions in 2011 and a radical shift in transport patterns, fuel consumption and behavioural change will be required over the period to 2050.
FTA Ireland encourages all of its members to participate in the LCRS as it helps reduce the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs), and FTA Ireland and its partners in Enprova can secure capital incentives for members who do so. The FTAI accreditation scheme also recognises the efforts of those companies which institute reductions in their production of GHGs.
In 2014, FTA Ireland has said that it will intensify efforts in order to help reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector, assisting members to use the five key levers for GHG reduction:
a. Increasing fuel efficiency b. Maximising vehicle payload c. Minimising empty running d. Monitoring carbon intensity of fuels (i.e. encouraging use of biofuels, natural gas and electricity where possible), and e. Optimising modal split (i.e. using lower carbon modes such as rail and water where appropriate)
