Danny Alexander has called on hauliers to do more to reduce their carbon emissions.

The chief secretary to the Treasury spoke at the Road Haulage Association's annual lunch yesterday (May 15th) and emphasised the need for the issue to be taken seriously. 

He pointed to recent climate change predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as evidence of the need for action in order to reduce the risk of flooding and heat waves.

"Climate change remains the biggest long-term issue facing our planet ... and we need to make sure that here in the UK we create a green, sustainable economy that can power our countries' future," Mr Alexander stated. 

At present, heavy goods vehicles contribute around 20 per cent of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions from domestic transport, a figure he thinks can be dramatically improved upon. 

While Mr Alexander recognises there are costs and technical challenges associated with making fleets greener, he does not think this should be allowed to stand in the way of progress.