Deputy urges drivers to consider other transport

Cameron WeldonChannel Islands
News imageBBC Deputy Adrian Gabriel from the States of Guernsey stood outside some shops and parked cars. He is looking straight at the camera and is smiling. BBC
Deputy Adrian Gabriel said

Drivers in Guernsey have been urged to seek alternatives modes of transport in an effort to reduce carbon emissions created by vehicles.

Transport remains the island's biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, with overall emissions dropping by nearly 4% over the year.

Deputy Adrian Gabriel, president of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure said: "Transport is an important part of the makeup of our island, but emissions do have an issue on our island."

News imageLots of cars parked in a coastal car park in Guernsey. There are rows of cars packed in marked bays in a concrete car park.
Transport remains the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases in Guernsey

Gabriel said he understood that some people may have a "love affair" with their cars and "it's certainly not my place to get people out of their cars".

He said: "I appreciate that there is always a need for a vehicle for some people but also if there was a better choice available.

"If they can choose to cycle or get the bus and it meets their needs, we as government can facilitate that."

He said the government was looking at changing bus routes.

He added: "The good news is our pathway to net zero is working and our existing policy is on track to meet our interim target of 50% on 1990 levels by 2030.

'Pretty significant'

Gabriel said the government was also "enticing" the use of electric cars, which make up 10% or road vehicles in the island.

He said that figure did not include electric motorbikes or electric vans so the "amount of people using hybrids and EVs is pretty significant".

He also believes the island should align with the UK on its plan to phase out the sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

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