As MPs prepared to debate the environmental aspects of last week’s Queen’s Speech, RMT put forward for discussion an eight-point action plan aimed at harnessing public transport to help combat global warming. The eight points are:

*Introduction of statutory targets for ‘modal shift’ in transport use from private car and air travel to trains, buses and trams

*A statutory requirement for the Department for Transport to publish a strategy for reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector.

*Regulated and simplified rail and bus fares structured to encourage modal shift, rather than dictated by commercial considerations.

*Investment for significant increases in rail and bus capacity to be supported by ring-fenced revenues from road pricing.

*Increased investment and research into the production of carbon-efficient buses, trains cars and aeroplanes.

*An immediate review of the government’s road-building and airport-expansion plans.

*Amendment of the ACAS Code of Practice and legislation to give trade-union environmental representatives the same rights as industrial and health and safety reps.

“A climate-change bill is an important first step, but Britain will only be able to meet its climate-change challenge if policy measures are introduced that will get people out of cars and planes and onto trains, buses and trams,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“To do that public transport has to be made attractive, available and affordable for all.

“Ring-fencing revenue raised from road-pricing would be a welcome step towards making sufficient funds available to invest in the public transport Britain needs.

“The joined-up transport network the environment needs must also mean an end to the damaging fragmentation brought about by bus deregulation and rail privatisation,” Bob Crow said.