Professor Emeritus from London Uni - enviro-eco- geogaphy? You'sd think he'd agree...
Nope.
100% pro the argument against silly VED and punitive taxation as this hammers the middle classes on modest to below average income - whilst the super rich simply shrug it off. They can afford it and can keep it all.
Interestlingly he also pointed out that you might as well proverbially "fart in a strong hurricane wind " for all the good it will do. After all - UK doing it alone is not going to impact. All it does is punish its citizens. As he says - all countires have to agree not to pollute and we have fat chance of that occurring. UK savings would not equate to more than the aforementioned fart in a hurricane.
Economy would be hit with a Katrina Hurricane force of destruction as well.
He did remark that since aviation was the highest polluter and receives tax brakes as an industry - then obviously you hit this first.. assess the overall impact and then gradually introduce other greeny alternatives. You cannot impose VED of £900 for a Mini.. £1200 for cars currently at £150 VED and £2000 for the SUVs without providing cheap - and I mean
cheap and comfortable and timely public transport alternatives. Not everyone wants to or can ride a bicycle or horse to work.

Employers recruite nearest or provide a relocation package. After all - local person may not be highest qualified candidate - but could be most productive as "less knackered by a traffic jam"
Make hotels and hols cheaper in UK as well. Weather not really the issue. UK resorts are not as cheap as Europe overall.
Lot of ways we can help ourselves.. but then these do not milk someone.
For record - financial whizz on radio 4 today estimated that the motoring industry already contributes £50 BILLION of which only £6 BILLION is spent on improving roads and standards. (Peer reviewed LSE Prof on "You & Yours"

)
So ... motorists contribute heck of a lot to ecomomy and public purses. More so than non-motorists.
I wonder who they will fleece once we all jostle around and cut each other up in that place called "cyclonightmaryland"

Rose tinted glasses wither eventually
