The plans have been welcomed by Transform Scotland.
A cross-party group of Scottish parliamentarians have launched an inquiry into the Government’s plans for cutting emissions from public transport.
The Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Sustainable Transport is responding to widespread concerns that progress against the government’s climate targets is falling behind.
The group is announcing a call for evidence ahead of an evidence session in parliament today on ferry decarbonisation in Scotland.
The group is seeking views on how to urgently decarbonise Scotland’s fleets of buses, trains and ferries.
Transform Scotland spokesperson Laura Hyde-White said: “We must end our reliance on fossil fuels in transport – Scotland’s most polluting sector. Although much attention has been given in recent years to cutting emissions from private cars, we now need to focus on action to decarbonise Scotland’s buses, trains and ferries.
“Scotland has this incredible opportunity to build a modern, efficient public transport system that supports green jobs whilst meeting our climate targets. But if we don’t act now we’ll all be left behind. We want to hear people’s ideas on the urgent action we need to take now.”
The Cross Party Group will be taking evidence from Tuesday 20 June for 8 weeks until Tuesday 15 August, before publishing a report collating the findings of the inquiry.
The inquiry is hearing on Tuesday from expert witnesses Asbjørn Torvanger of the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (from Oslo in Norway) and Neil Kermode of Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre. It has already heard evidence on bus and rail.
CPG convenor Graham Simpson MSP said: “In recent years, the Scottish Government has made some ambitious commitments to bus, rail and ferry decarbonisation, as part of its plans to cut climate emissions.
“The Parliament has a key role in ensuring that these targets are met. The Cross Party Group will take stock of progress and review the next actions required to ensure that emissions are cut in an efficient and timely manner.
“This work follows on from the Cross Party Group’s successful inquiry into traffic reduction last year which used expert evidence to set out a set of recommendations the Government should consider when progressing policies to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030.”
