This new report, commissioned from Greengauge 21 by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), RSPB and the Campaign for Better Transport, examines the impacts of HS2 on carbon emissions.
The report highlights that the first phase of HS2 will lead to a modest reduction in carbon while adding substantial transport capacity. Greater carbon reduction can be achieved by sensible complementary policy measures and by making full use of the capacity that HS2 will release on the existing railway. In addition, the beneficial carbon effect is increased fourfold by the planned extension of HS2 further north.
Government’s plans for high-speed rail can therefore help meet carbon emissions targets – if supported by a set of bold policy initiatives.
Download the report here (1.3Mb).
An interim report on the carbon research study was previously published in December 2011, drawing on research carried out by Transport and Environmental Policy Research and Systra.
The research study was sponsored by:
