More than 30 industry leaders and environmental campaigners have today (31 August) urged ministers to cut duties on clean replacements for diesel.
In a letter to Transport Minister Jesse Norman, the industry coalition said it’s an “urgent imperative” to reduce harmful pollutants.
Led by UK sustainable fuels supplier, Green Biofuels, the letter argues price reductions in renewable diesel fuel can be achieved at “no cost to the taxpayer” by encouraging consumers to switch to sustainable alternatives by creating price parity with diesel.
Signatories of support come from firms such as infrastructure contractor Skanska and hauliers JW Suckling Transport Limited, as well as from clean air campaigner and CEO of Enjoy the Air, Kate Barnard, and environmental campaigner, Dominic Dyer.
Julian Keites, Director of Sustainability at Green Biofuels, commented: “Electric vehicles are not the be all and end all of sustainable transport, and scrapping existing vehicles is not a green solution.
“Sustainable alternatives to harmful diesel fuels – used particularly in heavy goods vehicles, trains and maritime – have a vital role to play in rapidly cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.”
Electric vehicles are not the be all and end all of sustainable transport, and scrapping existing vehicles is not a green solution.
In the letter, the coalition says it welcomes the government’s ambitions in the Spring Budget to increase national energy security through investment in green initiatives; however, it highlights the “continued absence of action” that could support the wider roll-out of advanced biofuels, such as renewable diesel
The letter reads: “While some incentives do exist in the UK, these do not achieve price parity with diesel. As such, we believe your department, in collaboration with the Treasury, should look at reducing duties and creating tax incentives to catalyse the switch to renewable diesel.
“We would be grateful to meet with you to discuss what support the government can give to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel suppliers and ESG-focused corporations to speed up the UK’s transition to net zero.”
