Photo Credit: Kyle Bushnell

Calls for policies that tackle flying and private car use

Transport emissions in the UK are not just an environmental issue – they are a question of fairness. A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals a stark inequality: by 2035, under current government policies, the richest Britons will be producing 13 times more domestic transport emissions than the poorest. And, when international travel is included, the gap grows to 22 times.

This isn’t simply about carbon footprint – it’s about who can access the benefits of mobility, and who bears the brunt of exclusion. The IPPR’s analysis shows that without a fairer, people-centred approach to decarbonisation, existing inequalities will deepen, while climate targets slip further out of reach.

A widening emissions gap

The richest 4% of the population already emit 10 times more carbon from domestic travel than the poorest 14%. By 2035, this disparity is projected to widen further, with the richest group producing 13 times the emissions of the poorest.

What makes the figures even more striking is that the poorest are actually decarbonising at a faster pace than the wealthiest. This is partly because they already rely more heavily on public transport, walking and cycling, and fly far less.

In contrast, wealthier groups are set to continue high levels of private car use and flying – both of which are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Who emits the most?

The IPPR’s updated research builds on its 2023 study, which broke down emissions by income, gender, location, ethnicity and age. It found that wealthy white men from rural areas are the highest emitters. Their lifestyles often involve frequent driving, long commutes and more discretionary flights.

At the other end of the scale, millions of people – disproportionately women, ethnic minorities, young people and those living in urban areas – have limited access to cars or flights. For them, the problem is not excess travel, but the inability to access work, community life and essential services.

This highlights a double injustice: the groups contributing least to transport emissions are also those who face the most barriers to mobility.

The government’s current approach

Transport is the UK’s highest emitting sector, and almost 30% of the country’s emission reductions are expected to come from surface transport. Yet government policy is heavily weighted towards technological solutions, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable aviation fuels.

While EVs are a vital part of decarbonisation, the IPPR warns that relying solely on technology will not close the emissions gap. Affluent groups are better placed to afford EVs and benefit from incentives, while poorer households – already less likely to own a car – gain little from such policies. Similarly, sustainable aviation fuels may reduce emissions per flight, but they will not address the fairness issue if wealthier groups continue to fly frequently.

A fairer approach to decarbonisation

The IPPR argues that fairness isn’t a barrier to climate action – it’s the key to unlocking it. Policies that focus on reducing excess travel by the wealthiest, while improving transport options for the least mobile, can achieve faster emissions reductions and greater social inclusion.

Under this ‘fairer pathway’, the richest groups would reduce car use by 25% and domestic air travel by 46%.

If these changes were implemented, the emissions gap between the richest and poorest would narrow significantly – from 13 times down to 8 times – while overall transport emissions could fall by 71% by 2035, compared with just 55% under the current policy.

Tackling domestic flights

Domestic air travel is one of the most unequal and environmentally damaging modes of transport. It is disproportionately used by affluent groups for convenience, while alternatives, like rail, are underfunded.

The IPPR highlights the need to discourage unnecessary domestic flights, particularly where rail journeys are viable. This could involve:

• Improving rail affordability – making long-distance train travel cheaper than flying.
• Expanding rail capacity – particularly in regions poorly served by current networks.
• Policy disincentives – such as taxes or levies on frequent flyers.

Reducing domestic flights doesn’t mean limiting mobility – it means shifting it to fairer, cleaner alternatives.

Rethinking private car use

The UK’s dependence on private cars is another major barrier to fair decarbonisation. Wealthier groups tend to own multiple cars and drive further distances, increasing their carbon impact.

The IPPR suggests that reducing unnecessary private car use must go hand-in-hand with better alternatives:

• Investment in affordable bus services – particularly in rural and suburban areas where options are scarce.
• Safer and more extensive cycling and walking infrastructure, encouraging active travel.
• Urban planning that creates 15-minute neighbourhoods, reducing the need for long car journeys.
• Incentives for car sharing and pooled mobility schemes, especially in areas with poor public transport.

These policies would not only reduce emissions, but also cut congestion, improve air quality and enhance public health.

The role of zero-emission vehicles

Electric vehicles are a key part of the transition, but the report stresses that they must be part of a balanced strategy. Simply swapping petrol and diesel cars for EVs will not address the structural inequalities in the transport system.

Instead, EV adoption should be targeted alongside measures that:

• Encourage households to own fewer vehicles overall.
• Ensure EV charging infrastructure is equitably distributed, not just in affluent areas.
• Support the second-hand EV market, making clean vehicles accessible to lower-income households.

Technology must serve fairness – not widen divides.

Social inclusion and access to mobility

The report also highlights how unequal access to transport entrenches social exclusion. While the most affluent have effectively ‘unlimited mobility’, others are locked out of job opportunities, healthcare, education and social life.

A fairer decarbonisation pathway could help to close this gap by ensuring:

• Reliable and affordable public transport in every community.
• Better rural connectivity, so that people outside cities are not forced into car dependency.
• Prioritisation of universal service standards in transport, similar to those in energy and water.

The aim is not just to cut carbon, but to build a transport system that works for everyone.

The political implications

Keir Starmer’s government has positioned itself as serious about net zero, rejecting calls – including from former prime minister Tony Blair – to water down climate policies. But the IPPR findings show that without tackling inequality head-on, the UK risks undermining both climate targets and social cohesion.

Policies that appear punitive, such as restrictions on flights or car use, can be politically challenging. However, if they are framed as part of a fair deal for everyone, they become more defensible. Cutting back the excesses of the wealthiest, while expanding mobility for the poorest, is not just good climate policy – it’s good politics.

Could the answer be a nationwide incentive program?

Ensuring equitable access to low-carbon transportation options, particularly for vulnerable populations, might be difficult with an incentive-based approach alone. However, retrofitting existing vehicles might be necessary to address emissions from the current vehicle fleet, while transitioning to new, low-carbon models.

In order to blend low carbon travel incentives with a national retrofit strategy, the UK needs to align transport infrastructure investment with a drive for energy-efficient homes, to reduce overall emissions and support Net Zero targets. This involves investing in mass transit, cycling, walking, and electric mobility, alongside incentives for building retrofits and energy efficiency, thereby creating a coherent strategy that reduces carbon in both travel and built environments.

The choice is clear: decarbonisation can either entrench inequality, or dismantle it. Which path we take will determine not only our carbon future, but the kind of society we build along the way.

Carl Dodd, Property Revolutions Ltd.