Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership

Annual Conference 2014

Draft Low Emission Strategy – Collaborative

Development

Andrew Taylor

Air Quality Policy Manager

Directorate for Environment & Forestry

• Background

• Consultation

• Draft Low Emission Strategy –

structure and key points

• Low Emission Zone framework

• Next stages

Background • Many local authorities have long established action

plans with a wide range of measures, but progress in

improving air quality is slow

• Measures with the biggest potential impacts tend to

be expensive and/or presentationally difficult – Low

Emission Zones, congestion charging, large scale

modal shift to public transport

• Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow have all

completed/are undertaken LEZ feasibility studies –

but no LEZ yet in Scotland despite widespread

adoption in Europe

A national approach to LEZs

• A national approach may help acceptability –

certainty for businesses and transport operators

with the same standards to be met everywhere

• Scottish Government announced in July 2013 that a

national framework for LEZs would be developed

• This concept has subsequently developed into plans

for a national Low Emissions Strategy within which

the LEZ framework will sit

A national Low Emissions Strategy

The aim:

The LES will draw together various

policies being implemented and

developed across a range of

central government portfolios

which have the potential to

improve air quality, and other

cross-cutting environmental issues,

and present these within a coherent

overall framework.

Consultation

Three consultation workshops held to:

• inform content of draft Strategy

• provide opportunity for all interested parties to

contribute their views – c.50 private and public

sector organisations

28 May – Edinburgh – Planning

3 June – Glasgow – Transport, Business & Freight

11 June – Stirling – Energy

Each workshop was based on a series of eight general

questions, plus three specific questions related to the

themes of the individual workshops.

Workshops – Key Issues

• Clear purpose and objectives, with measurable and

meaningful targets which are regularly monitored

• Adequate resources

• Emphasis on economic as well as health/AQ benefits

• Technological and behavioural changes

• Support and buy in at all levels, and across public

and private sectors

• Key roles of development and transport planning

• Clear guidance and support from central government

• Strong linkages with other strategies, policies and

legislation

Literature review

• Learn from experiences elsewhere

• Wide range of case studies, focus on relevance for

Scotland:

England – London, Bradford, Oxford, York

Europe – Berlin, Bremen, Copenhagen, Milan,

Stockholm

Rest of world – Hong Kong, Mexico City, San

Francisco, Seoul

Literature review – conclusions

Three main approaches to emissions

reduction:

• Influencing behaviour – carrots and sticks

• Emissions standards

• Accelerated take up of new technologies

Interviews

• Structured telephone discussions for more in depth

input to draft Strategy

• Interviewees selected to provide

range of views, some with past

experience of implementing Low

Emission Strategies:

- Transport for London

- Bradford City Council

- Greensphere

- 2020 Group

- Friends of the Earth Scotland

Draft Low Emission Strategy for Scotland

• Draft Strategy developed over

past few months by Scottish

Government, Transport Scotland

and SEPA

• Regular feedback from STEP

members and Scottish urban

air quality group

Annexes .................................................................................................................................

Annex A - Consultation Process .............................................................................................

Annex B – Low Emission Zone Guidance ..............................................................................

Annex C - Modelling Guidance ...............................................................................................

Annex D – Useful Resources .................................................................................................

Annex E – Legislation and Policy

Mission, Vision & Objectives

National Low Emission Zone Framework

• Development of the LEZ framework still at an early

stage – initial proposals in the draft Strategy

• Decision on whether to introduce an LEZ will still be

with local authorities – but will have to comply with

criteria in the national framework

• Certainty and consistency for all who are affected –

on both the implementation and compliance sides

• Particular emphasis on regional working amongst

local authorities

Consultation – next stages

• Full draft Strategy will be issued for consultation before end of

2014

• Second consultation stage will involve:

- formal Scottish Government consultation exercise

- further informal discussions with STEP, SUAQG and others

- engagement with individuals/organisations with previous

experience of developing and implementing Low Emission

Strategies

Working groups

Establishment of working groups to help refine specific sections:

i. LEZ framework

ii. health

iii. planning

iv. modelling & monitoring

v. transport

vi. sustainability

Role:

• Provide guidance and suggestions on how to develop the

Strategy further and to deliver the actions

Timescale:

• Groups will be established as early as possible in 2015

Workshop on air quality and traffic modelling

• Taking place on 9 December

• Will discuss approach to traffic monitoring and

modelling in the Netherlands, with the aim of

learning lessons which can be applied in Scotland

• The LES monitoring & modelling working group will

be launched at the event

Post consultation

• LES will be developed further over first part of 2015, both in

terms of content and structure

• Draft version and outputs from second stage consultation will

form the basis of the final Strategy

• Aiming to publish this final version as soon as is feasible –

important to maintain focus and momentum, and start

delivering on the actions

• Scottish Government will produce an annual progress report

and develop a timetable for reviewing and updating the

Strategy

Further information and questions:

andrew.taylor2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk