London, 18 November 2020 - UKPIA supports decarbonisation of transport which the UK Government is seeking to achieve with today’s announcement and will continue to work with our members to deliver that aim. UKPIA believes that as well as encouraging EV uptake in light vehicles, government should support the uptake of a range of technologies to reduce carbon emissions in light transport without a ban, but welcomes the acceptance that hybrids have an important role to play.
To be ready for the end of the sale of new conventional combustion engines from 2030, a holistic plan coupled with regulatory certainty is needed from the UK Government to enable the sector to meet this challenge.
Attention must also turn to harder to decarbonise transport sectors – aviation, maritime and Heavy Goods Vehicles – where low carbon liquid fuels, which can deliver an 87% GHG emissions reduction and hydrogen will certainly be needed.
UKPIA will continue to work with government on creating a clear plan that ensures greenhouse gas emissions are reduced across all technologies in the most economically efficient way – taking a whole system-based approach with tailored policy interventions for difficult to decarbonise sectors such as aviation.
Quotes Attributed to UKPIA Director General, Stephen Marcos Jones.
“The downstream oil sector recognises the need for action on climate change and will play an active role in the pathway to net-zero emissions.
“UKPIA and our members know that a range of technologies including EVs have a major role to play into the 2030s and beyond, and we will keep working with government to deliver this ambitious new target.
“We also need to work with government to make sure that low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) continue to be developed. Harder to decarbonise sectors like aviation will rely on LCLFs, meaning we need to develop them now to ensure they are decarbonised for 2050.
“While internal combustion engines will still be in use for some time to come, it is important to deploy low carbon liquid fuels like biofuels into the fuel mix sooner as they offer significant carbon emissions reductions with today’s car fleet.”
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Notes to Editors:
- The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) represents eight oil refining and marketing companies that operate the six major oil refineries in the UK and source over 85% of the transport fuels used. UKPIA members also own around 1,250 of the UK's 8,476 filling stations in the UK.
- The reduction of GHG emissions from Low Carbon Liquid Fuels is based on research by Fuels Europe.
- The Transition, Transformation, and Innovation: Our role in the Net-Zero Challenge report is available here or in hard copy on request from the UKPIA Press Office. This report outlines our Vision towards reaching Net-Zero in the UK.
Contact:
- Jamie Baker, Director of External Relations, +44 (0) 2072 697 605
- Callan Tree, Communications & Membership Specialist, +44 (0) 7468 694 730