Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of levels of pollution (a) caused by diesel non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) engines fitted to transport refrigeration equipment and (b) in areas with temperature controlled warehouses where NRMM are used and make frequent deliveries.
Tailpipe emissions from vehicles which power transport refrigeration units are recorded as road traffic emissions in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. The data for road transport emission is published annually and has been reported since 1990 onwards. The Government has not historically estimated emissions from transport refrigeration unit auxiliary engines as the available data is limited.
Defra has recently completed a research project which involved working with industry and sector experts and aimed to improve the evidence base on emissions from non-road mobile machinery, including transport refrigeration units, and we are considering next steps. As set out in the Clean Air Strategy, the Government is considering the options to reduce emissions from non-road mobile machinery, and this research will help ensure that we have a robust and accurate evidence base to consider policy options from.