Transport policy and vehicle emission objectives in the UK: is the marriage between transport and environment policy over?

Following the growth in car ownership and use in the UK, and associated concerns with traffic levels and vehicle emissions, the Government published the Integrated Transport White Paper (ITWP) in 1998, setting out a fully integrated policy to tackle the 'twin pillars' of congestion and pollution. Since the publication of the ITWP, congestion has emerged as a more salient concern, while a combination of increasing public dissatisfaction over progress on transport, a number of political shocks (a national fuel duty protest, in particular) and institutional change have combined to effect an apparent shift away from the original 'joined-up' philosophy. It is argued that the Government is now focusing on investing in transport infrastructure and has been slow to promote policies to manage demand for road use such as congestion charging. The short-lived marriage of transport and environmental policy is facing a stern test. Although, local air pollution has been falling due to improved engine technology, it is argued that CO2 emissions from road traffic will increase in the future, jeopardising the UK's ability to hit its climate change targets. In conclusion, it is argued that greater integration of policy is required (possibly through a Ministerial Committee, but not through further departmental restructuring), while the introduction of a national road charging scheme would reduce CO2 and further reduce local air pollution. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.