AQW 13082/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 07/06/2024
Answered On Date: 24/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what measures his Department is taking to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.

Answer:

My Department is undertaking a range of actions that will support the transition to net zero in the transport sector. I recently advised Ministerial colleagues of my intention to bring forward legislation relating to the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate / Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023, for the Assembly’s approval. These schemes will set sales targets for vehicle manufacturers in relation to the percentage of new zero emission vehicles they will have to sell. In support of this, my Department is taking steps to enhance the electric vehicle charge point infrastructure through amendments to the planning system and providing matched funding to support Councils in accessing funding for On-Street Residential charging infrastructure.

However, I acknowledge that we will require more than a transition to zero-emission and low-emission vehicles; managing transport demand and embedding behavioural change will also be of vital importance in reducing carbon emissions.

Therefore, my Department’s approach to decarbonisation will focus on measures to reduce vehicle kilometres travelled and encourage walking, wheeling and the use of public transport. These measures will be supported by a number of overarching enabling actions such as the development of a Transport Strategy and a suite of Transport Plans. A bespoke Transport Emission Model has also been developed that will ensure robust monitoring of policy progression and assessment of the enabling actions.