How can we reduce emissions by 63% in a decade- lessons from the highways sector

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 CIHT's latest report shares real world experience from across the CIHT partnership network about how Highways Authorities and their supply chain partners have reduced transport related carbon emissions via a wide range of measures including low carbon materials, logistics planning, electrification of construction plant, transport planning, procurement, innovative design, multi-partner collaboration, and reforms to codes and standards.

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Cover of Reducing emissions by 63% in a decade white paper

   

Surface transport is the single biggest source of Green House Gas emissions in the |UK- responsible for 26% of emissions in 2021. 

The Climate Change Committee, the government's independent advisor, has found that to stay on track to reach Net Zero by 2050, our emissions must fall by 63% against their 2019 levels by 2035- this is just over 10 years away. 

To make reductions of this scale and at this pace we will need to identify quickly what works and if it can be copied in other locations.

The report brings together more than 20 examples of good practice.  

The CIHT Decarbonisation Award winning Birmingham Integrated Programme Alliance that has saved 4,700 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent over a £130M programme of carriageway and footway improvements, including how the Alliance’s innovative governance arrangements meant that it was “set up for success” to drive action against 3 priorities of increasing the use of low carbon materials, adopting innovative site and transport practices, and deploying proactive asset management - with a focus on introducing longer lasting designs and specifications.

The Micheldever Road Materials Recycling Facility that has helped Hampshire Highways’ deliver a step change in the use of recycled materials and opened opportunities to save 7000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent and generate £1.5M of income, including how the County Council and its partners Milestone and OCL developed the Micheldever Road Materials Recycling Facility (MRMRF) as an alternative to a carbon intensive asphalt plant – and how the County Council’s specifications have been rewritten to make the materials manufactured at Micheldever the default choice across the local road network.

SEGRO’s transport strategy for the East Midlands Gateway (EMG) Logistics Park that has cut emissions from commuting to work by 11,500 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent, including a major focus on reducing single occupancy commuting by car, backed by long term investment in sustainable transport infrastructure and services.

   

Key takeaways 

Every transportation professional needs to identify how they and their organisations are going to contribute to delivering Net Zero.

This report cuts through the noise and provides real world examples of what can be done, backed up by hard data on the level of emissions reductions that have been achieved.

This is an invaluable resource for individual professionals to develop their knowledge and for organisations to develop credible carbon reduction strategies.

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Acknowledgments 

The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) would like to thank the following people without whom the document would not have been possible.

Steering Group and Sub-Groups

Yara Al Hamdan, Transport Planner, Atkins & Chair of Steering Group
Babak Babazadeh, Independent Consultant
Greg Beckford, Senior Engineer, Project Centre
Stephen Bennett, Director, Transport Consulting, Arup
Paul Binks, Highways Asset Manager, Lancashire County Council
Alistair Bogaars, Lecturer, University of Greenwich
Agnes Boscoe-Wallace, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University
Will Bowers, Carbon Advisor, Balfour Beatty
Stuart Bradshaw, Principal Engineer, Lancashire County Council
Michael Broadbent, Independent Consultant
Mark Coates, International Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Bentley Systems
Georgette Foster-Bell, Technical Director, Arcadis
Theo Genis, Technical Director, Stantec
Ed Godsiffe, Head of Sustainability, Milestone Infrastructure
Craig Hannam, Market Sector Manager, Fosroc
Stephen Joseph, Visiting Professor, University of Hertfordshire
Paul Kidd, Technical Director, Eurovia
Joe Kimberly, Innovation Manager, Colas
Tina McHugh, Pavement Technical Lead, Costain 
Samantha Schofield, Head of Environment & Sustainability, Amey
Jonathan Spear, Policy & Strategy Advisor, Atkins
Mark Thirkell, Associate Director, Project Centre
Matthew Tompsett, Head of Environment & Sustainability - Kier Highways

Authors

Andrew Crudgington, Climate Change Associate, CIHT
Sara Zuin, Policy Advisor – Transport Infrastructure, CIHT

 

Supporters


CIHT would like to acknowledge and thank all our supporters and members of our Partnership Network who have contributed to this project.

 

 

Take action: Record your CPD

CPD is defined as any activity that provides new knowledge or skills that help you to achieve your professional development goals or has otherwise helped you to develop as a highways and transportation professional

Plan, record and manage your CPD for free at CIHT Learn.

Need help with getting the most out of your CPD?  Don't worry CIHT can support you.  Access CIHT’s CPD Guidance here.

 

 

Help and support 

For more information or if you have any queries please contact communications@ciht.org.uk  or technical@ciht.org.uk.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities for events, please contact Ben Sellers on Ben.sellers@thinkpublishing.co.uk +(0)20 3771 7238 

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Get ahead with CIHT Membership

Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT.  We are  committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career

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