26 Mar 2010 09:03:13

Government announces low-carbon transport funding

The UK government has announced the launch of a £30 million fund to help reduce transport emissions and improve air quality in major cities.

It will deliver low-carbon buses across England, with local authorities and bus operators being given the chance to bid for additional funds to buy more vehicles.

Some £3.5 million will also be set aside to support increases in the use of biogas to power cars, buses and homes.

Biogas is produced from waste material and the government believes it can play a crucial role in helping the country meet its carbon reduction targets.

"These measures will not only help us to reduce emissions but also provide a sustainable and economically viable alternative to traditional carbon-based transport," said transport secretary Andrew Adonis.

The announcement follows the publication of a report by the House of Commons environmental audit committee, which claimed that air pollution contributes to the early deaths of around 50,000 people in the UK each year.

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