Ellie Ames 28 June 2023

Thousands more green buses needed to reach net zero

Thousands more green buses needed to reach net zero image
Image: LD Media UK / Shutterstock.com.

More than 5,800 extra green buses are needed in England by 2030 to reach net zero and support the levelling up agenda, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

The Government has committed to replacing existing diesel buses across the UK with 4,000 new green buses.

However, as of May 2023, despite thousands of buses being nominally ordered or funded, only 87 zero emission buses were in use outside London.

In both its National Bus Strategy and Levelling Up White Paper, the government said that it was committed to ensuring that bus services across the UK were ‘significantly closer to the standards of London’.

The IPPR has said that, in London, twice as many bus trips are taken per person than in any other metropolitan area in England, and that there is a ‘deep-rooted metropolitan unfairness’.

Joshua Emden, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: ‘The government’s National Bus Strategy committed to level up bus services across England and raise them to the same standard as London.

‘Our analysis shows how a modest investment from government would deliver on these promises, decarbonise current and future bus fleets and have a transformative impact on local bus connectivity.’

The IPPR has called for the government to phase out the sale of new diesel buses by 2030.

The think tank has also asked the government to invest £2.5 billion by extending the funding of Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) between 2023-2030.

If this story was of interest, then check out, 'Delivering on the local net zero promise'.

Sign up here to receive our free daily news and jobs bulletin.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Executive Director – Adult Social Care, Health & Wellbeing

Sefton Borough Council
£131,208 (Hay 1)
Lead with Purpose. Build on Excellence. Shape the Future of Health and Wellbeing in Sefton. Sefton (Metropolitan borough), Merseyside
Recuriter: Sefton Borough Council

Strategic Finance Business Partners (five roles)

Nottingham City Council
up to £80k
Nottingham is a bold, vibrant, and exciting Core City at the heart of the UK, alive with potential and ambition. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Director of Finance (Strategy) – deputy S151

Nottingham City Council
up to £125k
Nottingham is a bold, vibrant, and exciting Core City at the heart of the UK, alive with potential and ambition. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Customer Specialist

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum
Customer SpecialistPermanent, Part Time£25,081 pro rataLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Customer Specialist

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum
Customer SpecialistPermanent, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 pro rataLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner