Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total CO2 emissions from HS2 Phase One construction in the event that fossil-based diesel is not replaced with an advanced renewable diesel for all heavy plant and related transport.

The overall construction carbon impact of HS2 Phase One is reported in the relevant Environmental Statement*. This aspsessment presents a reasonable worst-case scenario and assumes fossil-based diesel is used for heavy plant and related transport. The statement was produced to accompany the then High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill. In the four years since publication, technological improvements and adoption of best working practices will have superseded many of the findings therein, including HS2 Ltd’s adoption of a target to cut construction carbon emissions by 50% against industry baselines. Contributors to achieving this target include the adoption of plant and facilities that do not use fossil-based diesel.

* https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-phase-one-environmental-statement-documents