Written evidence submitted by Mr David Whitmore (EVP0127)

The proposed policy objective is aimed at preventing further global warming by preventing further increase in the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, it has now been determined that because of the covid 19 pandemic, human-produced CO2 emissions decreased in the last year, while the measured atmospheric level continued to increase. It may be reasonably deduced that anthropogenic CO2 emissions have no significant effect on atmospheric level, especially as 97% of emissions are from other natural causes.

It follows that the radical and costly policy of eliminating the internal combustion engine is futile. In any case, when the carbon dioxide tally of all the stages of sourcing raw materials, manufacture, running, and end of life disposal is taken into account, the electric car is responsible for just as much CO2 as internal combustion engined vehicles.

So in summary, all the horrendously expensive measures proposed to solve the perceived problem, will not even affect the atmospheric CO2 level, and we have not yet considered the question of whether CO2 is really the problem  at all. In fact empirical evidence from ice cores has shown that CO2 levels have always followed temperature levels throughout history; so temperature is the cause and  CO2 level is the effect. This agrees with Henry's law.

Road pricing has always been regressive, hitting the poorest hardest, with vehicle duty, insurance tax, fuel duty (with VAT on the duty - a  tax on a tax – as well as on the price) This will not be solved  by road pricing, which will be for the benefit of those with vested  interests in the technology companies involved.

Since everyone  needs the road infrastructure, whether they drive or not, the fairest and most  efficient way to finance it is from general taxation. In a free country, taxes or other sanctions should not be used to control people's lawful behaviour and lifestyle choices.

February 2021