Scottish government drops target to cut car use by 20%

The Scottish government has made a significant decision to abandon its ambitious target of reducing car usage by 20% by the end of the decade. This target was initially part of the Scottish National Party's (SNP) manifesto, aimed at decreasing the number of kilometers driven by cars across Scotland to help combat climate change and reduce harmful emissions. However, recent statistics reveal that car usage in Scotland has only decreased by 3. 6% since the onset of the Covid pandemic. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop addressed members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), stating that the original goal was 'not realistic and will need to be changed. ' In January, Audit Scotland, the body responsible for overseeing government spending, along with the Accounts Commission, which monitors local government finances, reported that Scotland was 'unlikely' to meet the 2030 target. Following this report, Hyslop appeared before Holyrood's Public Audit Committee, indicating that the 20% target was under review. She mentioned that the government would seek advice from experts at the Climate Change Committee regarding what the new target should be, with this information expected to be available in May. Hyslop emphasized, 'We will have more realistic targets. ' She acknowledged, 'I'm reviewing the target, we won't be able to deliver 20% car kilometer reductions. ' When questioned directly by Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson about whether the Scottish government had 'dropped the target' for reducing car kilometers, Hyslop confirmed, 'We will need to drop the target, or change the target from 20%. ' She reiterated that the Scottish government still aims to support a reduction in car usage but admitted, 'I think the figure of 20% is not realistic and will need to be changed. ' Hyslop recognized that 'car use in Scotland is currently contributing significantly to carbon emissions, and that must change. ' Caroline Rance, the head of campaigns for Friends of the Earth Scotland, criticized this development as 'shameful. ' She pointed out that one-third of households in Scotland do not have access to a car, and in urban areas, this figure is closer to half. These households often belong to the poorest segments of society, and inadequate public transport options leave them isolated from essential services such as schools, workplaces, and healthcare appointments. Rance highlighted the severe consequences of air pollution, noting that 2,700 people die each year due to toxic air, with many more suffering from related health issues. She argued that the government's inability to address car dominance equates to a failure to protect vulnerable populations. Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens' transport spokesperson, added that emissions from transport remain the largest source of pollution in Scotland, with private car use accounting for a significant portion of that. He stated, 'We've known for decades that to tackle the climate emergency, we need to cut car use, and while the Scottish government has been strong with words, their actions have been lacking. ' In recent years, low emissions zones have been established in cities like Edinburgh to encourage drivers to reduce their vehicle usage. Scottish ministers are now collaborating with local government body Cosla and regional transport partnerships to implement the recommendations made by Audit Scotland. Hyslop emphasized that 'this is not something national government can do alone,' and a renewed policy statement on car use reduction will be jointly published with Cosla later this spring. Cosla's environment spokeswoman, Gail Macgregor, acknowledged that authorities 'haven't done as much as we should have done. ' She told the MSPs, 'We know we're behind, there have been many factors to that, but what is key now is to look forward and ensure our route map is as it should be. ' Macgregor indicated that they are considering a more phased approach, suggesting that they may not achieve their original ambitious goals as quickly as intended. She concluded, 'I think that is a reality check that we have to do that.