Would the Minister explain his recent decision to adjust parking charges according a vehicle's emission levels instead of lifetime carbon footprint

1240/5(3684)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 29th JANUARY 2008

With regard to his recent decision to adjust parking charges according to a vehicle's emission levels, would the Minister:

Question

a)   A d vise why he has chosen exhaust emissions instead of lifetime carbon footprint and if his decision was based on concern about the possible effect on climate change caused by transport, would he advise whether this was based on conclusive evidence; in which event would he give references for this scientific evidence

Answer

1. T h e discounted parking scheme is basedon exhaust emissions because the figures are readily available to both TTSand the public, making the scheme both cost effective and simple to operate.Furthermore, low exhaust emissionvehicles tend alsotobesmallso they are more likely to have a low lifetime carbon footprint in anycase.Hybrid vehicles, with a limited overall CO2 emissions rating, wereincluded in the scheme due to their ability to operate in slow town centre congested traffic conditionson an electric motor. TheIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Changeacknowledges the existence of climate change and highlights a collective responsibility to minimiseemissions in an effort to slow down, stop or even reverse the effects. This is the rationale I have used to introducesuch a scheme.

Question

2. A d vise whetherhe has considered the implications on the lesswell-offwhoareunable to afford the latest more energy efficient models?

Answer

2. T h e scheme is notintended to penalisethelesswell-offin our society but to encourage car drivers who may beconsideringpurchasing a newcar,toconsider a car which will have a significantly lessimpacton global, as well as local, air quality rather than the larger modelswhich are available.

Question

3. A d vise the current levelof emission of3-nitrobenzanthroneand 1.8-dinitropyrene from theConnexbus fleet, togetherwiththelevelofCO2, expressed inkgCO2/passengermile.

Answer

c) E m i ssion levels of 3-nitrobenzathrone and 1.8dinitropyrene are not measured by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI), a body which monitors serious atmospheric pollutants in the U, and are not incorporated in the Euro Standards specifically for measuring vehicle emissions. The NAEI does, however, state that Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, to which group these chemicals are allied, have reduced by 95% in the UK since 1990 because of changes in industrial manufacturing processes. No research figures are apparently available for diesel engine emissions under load in respect of these two chemicals, although it is accepted that they are also created in this manner.

A s fa r as CO2 is concerned, these emissions are not defined in the same way for commercial vehicles as they are for cars in the manner requested in the question. Car engine emissions are given as kg/km CO2

but trucks and buses are quoted as g/kwh CO2 (that is, as a function of engine power) and cannot be compared in any meaningful manner to car emissions.

For the current Connex fleet, the emissions are as follows: Euro III vehicles - 68% of fleet C O 2 = 2.1g/kwh Euro II vehicles - 18% of fleet C O 2 = 4.0g/kwh Euro I vehicles - 14% of fleet C O 2 = 4.5g/kwh