Ireland Moves Cautiously towards Reducing Car Use
Ireland is moving cautiously towards reducing car use, reports the Irish Times.
The Irish government’s Climate Action Plan commits to developing a national demand management strategy for transport in order to halve emissions by 2030.
That will mean a 20% reduction in vehicle miles travelled by 2030.
Ministers have held private discussions about how to achieve a dramatic reduction in car use without alienating the public.
The Irish Times appears to have seen a memo written by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, which was discussed by Cabinet on 18th April 2023. The memo set out a strategy to reduce car use in order to meet climate goals.
It stated:
‘achieving a shift to transport modes with zero or low carbon emissions, such as active travel (walking and cycling) and public transport will require unprecedented levels of public buy-in and engagement’
Memo on reducing car use by irish environment minister
Starting with Cities
Ireland will focus on cities first.
The National Transport Authority has started work on a plan to halve transport emissions in the greater Dublin area by 2030.
The government will take account of the transport options available to people in rural and remote areas before suggesting any changes.
Two-Phase Strategy
The Irish government is planning a two-phase strategy, to avoid alienating the public.
Phase one will involve ‘laying the groundwork’ by communicating a wider vision for the transformation of Ireland’s public transport up to 2030, and setting out the investment to be made to make the vision a reality.
The government is planning national advertising and community engagement campaigns.
Only in Phase two will the government begin to encourage people to drive less, for example starting with taking one less car journey per week.
‘It is intended that viable sustainable alternatives to the private car will be well in place before, or developed in tandem with, any future demand management measures.’
cabinet memo
Demand management measures could include congestion charges in urban centres, and extra fees for non-residential parking.
The Situation in the UK and North Yorkshire
It’s good to see Ireland taking its climate commitments seriously, and looking to solve the difficult problem of transport emissions.
The UK government made positive noises about modal shift away from cars in its Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Net Zero Strategy, but does not have credible policies to achieve its goals.
Road-building continues, and the active travel budget has been slashed.
North Yorkshire knows that it needs to cut car use by 48% by 2030, because it is set out in the Routemap to Carbon Negative for the York and North Yorkshire region.
Unfortunately North Yorkshire Council’s own climate strategy is stripped of all measurable goals, and there is no mention of reducing car use.
Meanwhile North Yorkshire continues its record of total failure on active travel.