Motorists should be forced to pay to drive on the busiest roads to slash greenhouse gas emissions, the Government's climate change watchdog says today.
The Climate Change Committee, led by former CBI chief Lord Turner, wants ministers to introduce compulsory road pricing to prevent global warming.
Under the controversial scheme, cars would be fitted with electronic tags and tracked either by satellite or roadside beacon. Charges would rise at times of peak congestion to around ?1.50 a mile.
Heavy traffic on the M25 in Essex. Under a controversial scheme cars would be fitted with electronic tags and charged at times of peak congestion
In a report to MPs, the advisers called for a carbon revolution - with thousands of wind turbines, nuclear power stations and
1.7million electric cars - if Britain is to meet its legally binding greenhouse gas targets.
The report also suggested 'eco-driving' tips - such as not braking suddenly and sticking to the speed limit - should be taught in driving lessons to reduce emissions. Past attempts to introduce road pricing were scrapped after opposition from motorists and civil liberty campaigners.
In 2004, the then Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, announced plans for a national road pricing scheme. Motorists would pay between 2p and ?1.50 a mile depending on the time of day and levels of congestion.
But the idea was shelved after more than 1.8million people signed a petition against the green tax.
Now in its first annual report, the Climate Change Committee says there is a 'good economic rationale to introduce road pricing and thereby reduce congestion' and that 'the Government should seriously consider road pricing'.
Its chief executive David Kennedy claimed road pricing would slash carbon emissions - as long as other car taxes were not cut.
'We are not calling for the Government to rush ahead and introduce road pricing, but it shouldn't come off the agenda,' he said. 'It would have significant carbon benefits.'
Ministers have previously insisted road pricing should be 'revenue neutral' and that motorists would not be worse off.
But Edmund King, president of the AA, said: 'It would be political suicide for any party to back road pricing. Our latest opinion poll found that 77 per cent of people are opposed to it.
'In terms of climate change, what we have seen is vehicle technology makes more of a difference than fiscal policy.
'Motorists are already switching to greener and cleaner cars, working more from home and sharing cars. They don't need the threat of being beaten with road pricing to get them to change their habits.'
The Climate Change Committee was set up to advise ministers on how to meet Britain's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
However, its report warns that emissions have been falling at a rate of less than 1 per cent a year over the past five years.
The Climate Change Committee, led by former CBI chief Lord Turner, wants ministers to introduce compulsory road pricing to prevent global warming.
Under the controversial scheme, cars would be fitted with electronic tags and tracked either by satellite or roadside beacon. Charges would rise at times of peak congestion to around ?1.50 a mile.
Heavy traffic on the M25 in Essex. Under a controversial scheme cars would be fitted with electronic tags and charged at times of peak congestionIn a report to MPs, the advisers called for a carbon revolution - with thousands of wind turbines, nuclear power stations and
1.7million electric cars - if Britain is to meet its legally binding greenhouse gas targets.
The report also suggested 'eco-driving' tips - such as not braking suddenly and sticking to the speed limit - should be taught in driving lessons to reduce emissions. Past attempts to introduce road pricing were scrapped after opposition from motorists and civil liberty campaigners.
In 2004, the then Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, announced plans for a national road pricing scheme. Motorists would pay between 2p and ?1.50 a mile depending on the time of day and levels of congestion.
But the idea was shelved after more than 1.8million people signed a petition against the green tax.
Now in its first annual report, the Climate Change Committee says there is a 'good economic rationale to introduce road pricing and thereby reduce congestion' and that 'the Government should seriously consider road pricing'.
Its chief executive David Kennedy claimed road pricing would slash carbon emissions - as long as other car taxes were not cut.
'We are not calling for the Government to rush ahead and introduce road pricing, but it shouldn't come off the agenda,' he said. 'It would have significant carbon benefits.'
Ministers have previously insisted road pricing should be 'revenue neutral' and that motorists would not be worse off.
But Edmund King, president of the AA, said: 'It would be political suicide for any party to back road pricing. Our latest opinion poll found that 77 per cent of people are opposed to it.
'In terms of climate change, what we have seen is vehicle technology makes more of a difference than fiscal policy.
'Motorists are already switching to greener and cleaner cars, working more from home and sharing cars. They don't need the threat of being beaten with road pricing to get them to change their habits.'
The Climate Change Committee was set up to advise ministers on how to meet Britain's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
However, its report warns that emissions have been falling at a rate of less than 1 per cent a year over the past five years.
, as for the greenhouse gases the cars are far more environmentally friendly now. the government need to take some heavy stuff off the roads and back onto the railways as they do in lots of countries
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