Transport secretary Lord Adonis has come out in support of a Freight Transport Association scheme to report the logistics sector's carbon footprint publicly.

Adonis described the need to reduce carbon emissions from logistics as an important part of the DfT's carbon reduction strategy.

The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme aims to record, report and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the logistics sector. It already has the backing of some of FTA's leading members, which together operate over 23,000 commercial vehicles.

Under the scheme, LCRS members will be committed to submit their fuel data to FTA for analysis to provide an accurate picture of the logistics sector's carbon footprint. This will allow government to base its carbon reduction policy on hard evidence.

Rachael Dillon, FTA's climate change manager, said: "Together with the DfT we will develop a robust and consistent carbon measurement and reporting method that will be fair, accurate and eminently useful in the interests of mitigating the sector's environmental impact."

This comes in light of the report by The House of Commons Transport Committee which highlights the importance of investing in UK rail freight.

The report said: "We would expect the funding committed to the Strategic Freight Network to be, at the very least, maintained by the government in the next control period. The current proposals to develop the Strategic Freight Network after 2014 should be given a high priority and must be aligned with economic and environmental objectives."

It highlighted a number of other priorities for investment in the railway network:

a) network enhancements to increase capacity on commuter routes into London and the Manchester Hub;
b) high speed rail;
c) further electrification of the network;
d) additional rolling stock;
e) addressing freight capacity and capability constraints;
f) better access for towns that currently have no direct rail links;
g) improving stations;
h) operational strategy, such as new signalling technologies, and
i) improving integration with other modes of transport.

The Rail Freight Group highlighted the focus on the Manchester Hub  and electrifying the Midland Main Line as delivering benefits for freight services and said it was delighted that the committee has recognised the case for ongoing investment in the Strategic Freight Network.

RFG chairman Tony Berkeley said: "We have welcomed the current projects underway now but there is more needed - the capacity upgrade between Felixstowe and Nuneaton, the Joint Line upgrade and more.

"We urge government to include the Committee's recommendations in its future plans."

Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail manager said: "Ongoing government support for a reliable versatile rail freight network is crucial, both to secure industry investment and to realise the full benefits of the rail enhancements being carried out now."

Source: Logistics Manager