Opinion
Earlier this year, Alok Sharma, president for COP26, warned that the world is facing a ‘decisive decade’ on climate change, accusing governments of not doing ‘nearly enough’ to meet critical targets.
This is not new information for local authorities around the UK. More than two-thirds of councils have already declared a climate emergency with target dates of 2030, 2035 and 2040, and they fully recognise they hold a pivotal role in meeting the net zero carbon emissions target by the new date of 2035.
Going green: it’s a conversation that’s been happening in board rooms since the Green Movement hit mainstream consciousness after the Second World War and one that still generates more questions than answers, as well as equal measures of change and dismissal because the options seemingly only work for some.
The transport and logistics industry is now very much at the centre of the green conversation. With big vehicles, distance-heavy journeys, and high frequency of trips, it’s no wonder Government figures published in early 2018 showed that HGVs, light vans and buses and coaches contributed to more than a tenth (12%) of the UK’s CO2 emissions. It therefore begs the question: Is there a moral obligation for fleet operators to go green before the Government-imposed ban on the sale of combustion engine vehicles from 2030?
