People in the North of England are encouraged to have their say on the region’s Decarbonisation Strategy at a series of online public consultation events in July.
The draft strategy, developed by the region’s political and business leaders through Transport for the North, sets out the ambitious goal of achieving near-zero carbon emissions from surface transport by 2045.
To help people across the region find out more and have the chance to ask questions, we are hosting free online events via Zoom for each area:
North East – 2pm on Tuesday 6 July
Yorkshire and The Humber – 2pm on Monday 12 July
North West – 2pm on Wednesday 14 July
Tim Wood, Interim Chief Executive at Transport for the North, said: “Reducing carbon across our region’s transport network is an essential part of tackling the climate emergency – one of the greatest challenges of our time.
We’re thrilled to be consulting a strategy for the whole region that outlines how rapid progress can be made and how the North can lead the UK in slashing carbon emissions.
“We urge everyone across the North of England to get involved in this vital work and provide their views to the consultation, helping to shape future transport networks that are not only efficient and reliable but are sustainable too.”
Councillor Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “We welcome Transport for the North’s Decarbonisation Strategy consultation and would encourage the people of the North East to get involved and have their say over the next twelve weeks.
This strategy matches the objectives outlined in our North East Transport Plan which aims to take action to make travel in the North East net zero for carbon emissions.
Transport innovation has a huge role in achieving the UK’s net zero carbon emissions commitment by 2050 and it’s right that we take steps now to address carbon emissions to benefit generations to come.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “If we are going to tackle the climate emergency, we need to work together and make sure we are all pulling in the same direction.
Accelerating towards a decarbonised transport network must be at the heart of public policy making and investment decisions going forward, and I’m glad that the North is leading the way with this strategy as it will support Greater Manchester’s own ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
I would urge all residents to give their views in this consultation to shape the future of more sustainable transport and travel in the North.”
North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said: “The County Council fully supports TfN’s proposed Decarbonisation Strategy.
Our county is the largest in the country and residents often have to travel long distances just to reach destinations within North Yorkshire.
That is why we support improvements in public transport whenever we can to offer alternatives to the private car.
We also continue to expand opportunities for safe sustainable travel, and to invest in the county’s digital infrastructure to improve broadband and mobile phone reception.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “In the Liverpool City Region, we’re committed to doing everything we can to tackle climate change, including doubling the number of green jobs in the region, going net zero carbon a decade before national targets and taking action to radically green our transport network.
We know that we cannot tackle climate change alone, so it’s fantastic to see communities from across the North coming together to combine our efforts and do our bit.
As ever, we are leading the way and setting an example for the rest of the country to follow.
I’d encourage everybody to have your say and make sure that we are doing everything we can to make transport across the North cleaner, greener and more sustainable.”
To find out more and respond to the consultation visit: www.transportforthenorth.com/decarbonisation/.
The consultation opened on Monday 7 June 2021 and closes at 12:00 on Tuesday 31 August 2021.