UK Government: We will transform last mile deliveries

The UK Government has published its Net Zero strategy setting out how the UK will deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. 

The document states: “We will support and encourage modal shift of freight from road to more sustainable alternatives, such as rail, cargo bike and inland waterways.

This will be supported by a package of policies including:
• Investing in the capacity and capability of the rail network for freight, including infill electrification schemes;
• The Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant Schemes;
• Introducing a rail freight growth target; and
• ‘Last mile’ measures to support more sustainable freight in urban areas”

The strategy also pledges to:

“Transform last mile deliveries, with zero emission HGVs and decarbonised deliveries made possible through the adoption of new delivery models, supported by accurate data and digital innovations which drive greater efficiencies”.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented in the foreword: “We will make sure what you pay for green, clean electricity is competitive with carbon-laden gas, and with most of our electricity coming from the wind farms of the North Sea or state-of-the-art British nuclear reactors we will reduce our vulnerability to sudden price rises caused by Freight and logistics.”