Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to do more to encourage people out of their cars following a BBC report today that says new UK housing developments are dominated by roads.
According to a Department for Transport survey, 76% agreed that “for the sake of the environment, everyone should reduce how much they use their cars”. In 2017 63% agreed with the statement.
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth, said:
“This is a big shift in public opinion and shows that the public is way ahead of politicians on this issue.
“Transport is the one sector of the UK economy where carbon emissions are still growing, which is unforgivable, because it should be one of the easiest sectors to decarbonise.
“People clearly want to use their cars less, but successive governments have completely failed to invest properly in local infrastructure to promote safe walking and cycling, or reliable local buses and trains.
“And now Chancellor Sajid Javid is planning to waste £25bn on big new polluting road schemes which will carve through communities and wildlife sites and take us in precisely the wrong direction.
“If the Government is serious about tackling the climate emergency, it needs to listen to what people are telling them; help us use the car less.”
ENDS
For more information contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649 / 07718 394786 (out of hours – please do not text this number) media@foe.co.uk.
Notes to editors:
1. About Friends of the Earth: Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We bring together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/ follow us at @friends_earth, or like our Facebook page.
