Scotland’s Transport Minister has confirmed that the government’s target to reduce car km by 20% by 2030 has been ditched, with it now being “not realistic” to achieve. 

The commitment was first made in 2020, repeated in the last Programme for Government, but the long awaited final delivery plan never emerged. Meanwhile, car use has dropped by only 3.6% since 2019. 

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) welcomed the target and has continually called for urgent action to meet it, including in the recent Time for Action: Policies for a fairer, greener, healthier Scotland report.

Becky Kenton-Lake of SCCS said:

“Transport contributes the most to Scotland’s carbon emissions, and taking steps to meet this target would have been an example of the fair and bold climate action that is needed to get on track to reaching net zero by 2045.”

“However, since setting this target there’s been a clear lack of action to give any hope of meeting it, leaving communities across Scotland with unsafe and congested roads, dirty air and poor public transport. It also adds to an ever growing list of climate delays, broken promises and failures by the government.”

David Kelly of Community Transport Association said:

“Scotland cannot keep abandoning its climate commitments if we are to achieve net zero and reap the rewards for our economy and our society. Fewer cars in our cities, towns and villages will make them safer, healthier and more accessible places, especially for children, older people and disabled people. We now urgently need the Scottish Government and local authorities to get serious with a real plan for reducing private car use. Everyone in Scotland, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to better and cheaper sustainable transport options.”

Scott Runciman of Cycling UK in Scotland said:

“It’s disheartening to see that the Scottish Government have essentially dropped their own target on reducing car use. We’ve waited for a long time for the Route Map to come out and now it seems as if the government is lost, or lacking direction. Getting people out of cars is beneficial and popular, on an individual basis but also across society. We now need a clear direction that puts people ahead of cars, for Scotland’s health, communities and for the climate.”

For further comment and reaction:

Friends of the Earth Scotland in BBC News article – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1jxk9949e5o 

Transform Scotland – https://transform.scot/2025/04/24/commitment-to-20-car-traffic-reduction-dropped-our-response/