CAMPAIGNING WITH YOU
The ban on the use of red diesel for propulsion and UK’s 2020 Environment Bill are among some of the issues we’ve been campaigning on with your help. Here’s how we’re doing on these and other affairs…
IWA’s vision for sustainable boating
IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group has published a vision paper outlining initiatives that could ensure boats on the inland waterways don’t get left behind in the country’s progress to zero CO2 emissions by 2050. If implemented, the proposals would go a long way to ensuring that our canals and rivers continue to deliver benefits to society and the economy, and will be sustainable for future generations. Proposals include: Investment in infrastructure – the installation of 300 shore power mains connection charging sites across the inland waterways network (as a starting point, investment on other waterways should follow). This would improve air quality by reducing the emissions from stoves for heating and engines run for charging batteries, as well as enabling a move towards more boats with electric propulsion. National dredging programme – working with navigation authorities, investment in a dredging programme across the inland waterways to make propulsion more efficient. This will also have additional environmental benefits on water quality and increase capacity for flood waters. Research into biofuels – as existing boats and engines can have lives of 50 years and more (and the manufacture of new engines causes greater ecological and environmental damage than a lifetime of running existing engines) research into the production, use and distribution of biofuels is essential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of existing diesel and petrol engines. Alternative propulsion methods – research and development of alternative forms of propulsion, including hydrogen production and distribution, hydrogen and solid oxide fuel cells, and the use of supercapacitors, will allow these technologies to be developed and trialled in new-build boats. More details are available in IWA’s Sustainable Boating Vision Paper.
Environment Bill IWA has responded to the Environment Bill, which is currently going through the parliamentary bill process, by submitting comments on heritage, air quality, water resources and biodiversity net gain. In the submission, IWA: • Stressed the importance of built heritage as well as natural heritage, which we believe is not fully taken into account in the Bill. • Highlighted that emissions from boats on the inland waterways are relatively small compared to other sources countrywide, but cannot be ignored if the UK is to reach zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The widespread provision of shore power mains connection charging sites would be a key way of addressing this. We also outlined the other findings of IWA’s Sustainable Propulsion Group’s vision paper, which was included as an appendix. • Raised concerns about the impact on navigation authorities and restoration societies working to bring canals and formerly navigable rivers back into full use. The increasingly complex application processes are often viewed as merely bureaucratic exercises, and the licence costs and permit fees charged to these groups can be financial burdens. • Outlined IWA’s view that biodiversity net gain is an opportunity to demonstrate the valuable role that waterway restoration plays in the enhancement of habitats and increase of flora and fauna across the country. A number of suggestions were put forward for how biodiversity net gain credits could benefit waterway restoration schemes.
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Red diesel consultation IWA has submitted its response to HM Treasury’s consultation on removing access to red diesel for propulsion on the inland waterways from April 2022. In line with its work on sustainability, IWA’s view is that increased use of biodiesel would be more effective in the longer term in reducing emissions, and red diesel should therefore be retained until there is wider distribution and use of biofuels. IWA also considers that the cost to Government of introducing and managing the proposed change is likely to be in excess of any additional income from the increased taxation. A key concern of the proposals is the impact on suppliers (including boatyards and fuel boats) and the likelihood that many businesses may decide to stop selling diesel altogether, making it difficult to obtain fuel in some areas. IWA has also objected to waterborne freight not being given the same right to continue to use red diesel as railways, as this is likely to drive more cargo on to the roads. Roving fuel boats will see increased operating costs, despite the essential service they provide, threatening a loss of livelihoods as well as an important aspect of living waterways heritage. IWA welcomed the proposed tax relief on any white diesel used for domestic use, with the supplier becoming responsible for claiming the rebate rather than the current self-declaration process. Previous research indicated that 60% for propulsion and 40% for domestic requirements reflects typical fuel use, but IWA’s view is that the new relief scheme should allow a flexible rate to accommodate fluctuations throughout the year, and variation between boaters who use a lot of fuel for propulsion and those who use less. While boats with separate tanks could continue to use red diesel for non-propulsion uses, it is unlikely that suppliers would continue to sell both types of diesel. There is also concern that although boat-owners will not be required to flush their tanks to remove any red diesel dye, it is proposed that suppliers will have to flush their tanks and IWA considers this unnecessary and unhelpful. IWA also highlighted the increased costs to registered charities (who were previously able to use red diesel at the full rebated rate) for carrying out their charitable purposes (e.g. getting disadvantaged or disabled children afloat or operating trip-boats to raise funds for restoring a waterway restoration), and has suggested that they should also be exempt. Winter 2020 22/10/2020 08:23
