UK rejects EU call for city centre ban on petrol cars

[Guest guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12879566

28 March 2011 Last updated at 09:42 ET

UK rejects EU call for city centre ban on petrol cars

The UK has rejected proposals from the EU which call for a ban on petrol and

diesel cars from city centres by 2050.

The European Commission said phasing out " conventionally fuelled " cars from

urban areas would cut reliance on oil and help cut carbon emissions by 60%.

But UK Transport Minister Norman Baker said it should not be " involved " in

individual cities' transport choices.

" We will not be banning cars from city centres anymore than we will be having

rectangular bananas, " he said.

Outlining plans for a " Single European Transport Area " , the Commission said

there needed to be a " profound shift " in travel patterns to reduce reliance on

oil and to lower emissions from transport by 60% by 2050.

Travel shift

As part of this, it wants half of " middle distance journeys " between cities -

above approximately 186 miles - to shift from road to rail.

Continue reading the main story

"

Start Quote

The widely-held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is

simply not true "

End Quote

Siim Kallas

EU Transport Commissioner

Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said this move, plus the phasing out of

petrol or diesel cars in city centres, need not inconvenience people.

" Freedom to travel is a basic right for our citizens, " he said. " Curbing

mobility is not an option. Nor is business as usual. "

" The widely-held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is

simply not true. We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without

sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility. "

'Challenging'

Announcing a series of " challenging " targets, Mr Kallas said there should be a

50% reduction in conventionally-fuelled cars in city centres by 2030,

disappearing altogether 20 years later.

The Commission also hopes to " move close " to eliminating deaths by road

accidents by 2050, halving current fatality rates by 2020.

Other objectives would see all major " hub " airports connected by rail by 2050,

freight vehicles in cities becoming " carbon-free " by 2030 while 30% of road

freight travelling " medium distances " would move to rail or water-borne modes by

that point.

Continue reading the main story

"

Start Quote

It is not right for them (the EU) to get involved in how this is delivered in

individual cities "

End Quote

Norman Baker

Transport Minister

While the majority of long-distance and inter-continental journeys will still

be undertaken by plane or by ship, the Commission says airlines should steadily

increase their use of low-carbon fuels - hitting a 40% target by 2050.

It also wants Europe's air traffic control operations to be modernised with the

introduction of a single integrated system.

The centrepiece of the UK's transport plans is a £17bn high-speed rail between

London and Birmingham, while ministers are also seeking to encourage greater

take-up of electric cars by offering a £5,000 discount to buyers.

'Wrong direction'

But ministers indicated they would not be adopting the main plank of the EU

plan.

" It is right that the EU sets high-level targets for carbon reduction, however

it is not right for them to get involved in how this is delivered in individual

cities, " Mr Baker said.

" We are committed to decarbonising road transport by, for example, investing

more than £400m over the next four years to support electric vehicles and

promoting alternatives to car travel like walking and cycling. "

Environment campaigners welcomed some of the proposals but said there needed to

be more investment in public transport to deliver them.

" We are all paying the price for a transport policy that's been heading in the

wrong direction for far too long, " Dyer, Friends of the Earth's

transport director, said.

" Phasing out cars that run on fossil fuels from cities is a good way to

kick-start action but despite these headline-grabbing proposals the emission

reduction targets in the plan lack ambition, " he added.

[Guest guest]

This is a stupid idea and proof that modern elites want to drive the masses to poverty while they live in luxury. Look at the big picture. Electric cars weren't mentioned here. However, what most in the green movement like to deny is that electricity has to come from somewhere. Germany is taking the lead now in shutting down nuclear power plants. Others in Europe, as in the US, are nearing the end of the operating lives. They will eventually be shut down. Coal and gas powered plants are also going to be on the block to be cut all over the global warming hysteria. Where are they going to get the power then?

Solar and wind won't suffice. First of, both consume a great deal of energy and resources. Most don't see that because the mining and production is done in China or the Third world. Most people have no idea what goes into all of these things, really anything in the modern world. I've even heard people speculate that groceries are made in the back of the grocery store, and I don't think they were joking.

In addition, it will take vast amounts of solar panels to even begin to match today's needs and then only on the sunniest of days since clouds reduce the effectiveness of the panels. Then there are the windmills that use rare earth metals that are highly polluting to dig up and process. They don't really see those either and it is humorous that those who support wind power don't want the things near them. Too bad. I think they should put one in the middle of major parks and public places in the cities, or maybe on top of some of the high buildings which would get better wind. They want the power, they can get it generated nice and close and save all that loss through the wires.

Anyway, really need to lay off the news for a while. Nothing but a steady barrage of bad news, incredible stupidity and amazing corruption and power madness.

In a message dated 3/30/2011 2:37:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

UK rejects EU call for city centre ban on petrol cars