New Carbon Leadership Programme to Help Local Authorities in England Cut Road Emissions

A new initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions from road maintenance has been launched by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT). The Carbon Leadership Programme, developed by Proving Services and supported by the Department for Transport (DfT), is designed to help local highway authorities measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

Launching in June 2025, the programme includes two key modules: a baseline carbon assessment and a best practice carbon assessment. These will offer a standardized method for calculating emissions from local road maintenance and identifying the most effective reduction strategies. The goal is to support all highway authorities in England with practical, data-driven tools for carbon reduction.

The initiative builds on research by Proving Services for the Future Highways Research Group (FHRG) and was further developed through the Live Labs 2 programme. It will also create a collaborative platform for authorities to share knowledge and accelerate emissions reductions across the sector.

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood highlighted the government's support for the programme, noting its role in helping local authorities meet net zero goals while improving road conditions. “We’re backing ADEPT’s Carbon Leadership Programme to accelerate the sector’s transition to net zero,” she said.

Angela Jones, ADEPT President, called the programme a “game-changing initiative” that fills a long-standing gap in the sector's ability to measure and reduce road maintenance emissions. Simon Wilson of Proving Services added that a national audit would help benchmark best practices and guide future DfT funding.

More information and webinar registration details are available at www.adeptnet.org.uk/carbon-leadership-programme.