Core Activities

Work under this theme will optimise the use of resources and maximise the value of the research results. It will focus on development and implementation, governance of the research portfolio to maximise quality and impact; planning for dissemination and exploitation of IP; roadmapping the road freight sector’s path to meeting Government’s emissions targets.

In adition, Core Activities involves the Future Mapping project will aim to review and synthesise all research into CO2 abatement measures for road freight transport undertaken in the Centre and elsewhere and on this basis construct a carbon reduction roadmap for the road freight sector for the period up to 2050.

Objectives

1. Construct a coherent, realistic road map for achieving an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions from road freight by 2050, in line with the UK government’s 2008 Climate Change Act goal.
2. Define a series of interim targets for intervening years between 2013 and 2050.
3. Design a programme of research strategy into the various carbon abatement measures that need to be implemented along the way to meet the target.
4. Continuously update the road map as the Centre’s research generates more accurate information.
5. Develop and apply a transparent methodology for measuring industry’s progress towards the interim targets.

Impact

Commercial and Social Impact: Public policy-makers and company managers will receive guidance on the most promising pathways to cutting road freight emissions. This will include information on the likely time-scales over which carbon reduction measures can be realistically implemented and the inter-relationship between them. In addition to receiving documentation and access to the evolving road map spreadsheets, policy-makers and managers will benefit from their participation in the process of developing the road map at both strategic and tactical levels.

Academic Impact: The project will take stock of the road mapping work undertaken to date, assessing the current state of knowledge and highlight shortcomings and inconsistencies. This will help to define critical areas for future research and provide frameworks within which research results can be synthesised.