Transport East's strategy setting out priorities for transport over the next thirty years has been endorsed amid debate over whether it is an ambitious enough step towards carbon zero goals.

Many councillors praised the inclusion of 'decarbonisation to net zero' as a priority in the transport strategy endorsed on Tuesday, yet a Green Party councillor was sceptical.

The document was drawn up by Transport East, a sub-national transport body covering Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, and sets out the main aims to be pursued between now and 2050.

A priority of decarbonising to net zero is included in the strategy and the report affirms Transport East's intention to reach net zero transport by 2040.

The goals under this priority are to support: authorities to plan new development that reduces the need for carbon-intensive trips; local and digital access to jobs and services; the switch from private car to active or passenger transport; the movement of goods via more sustainable modes like rail, and a change to net zero carbon fuels at the earliest opportunity.

Conservative councillor Richard Rout said: "I think it is important to recognise the emphasis on net zero in the strategy.

"For some it won't be enough, but it is a massive step in the right direction and aligns with the goals in the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan."

The Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan is a commitment to pursue net zero carbon strategies by the county's public sector leaders. It was produced in response to Suffolk County Council's declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.

Green Party councillor Andrew Stringer accepted there were a lot of good points in the strategy but suggested there were some "holes" in the net zero aims.

In particular, Cllr Stringer suggested that making it easier for people to get to airports did not align well, as air travel is environmentally damaging.

An officer suggested that the reference to passenger transport to airports will help to make the process greener, and the strategy explains that Transport East will work with others to enhance rail, bus and coach connections to airports.

The Green Party councillor also did not feel the proposals around switching fuels went far enough – particularly as there is some emphasis on hydrogen.

Hydrogen is often generated using fossil fuels, a process that is environmentally damaging.

Cllr Richard Smith, whose cabinet responsibilities include transport strategy, accepted that hydrogen comes at varying levels of environmental impacts but stated a commitment to use hydrogen at the "greener end" of the spectrum.

In response to Cllr Stringer's concerns that the strategy needs to deliver completely on environmental aims as it runs all the way until 2050, Cllr Smith stated it will be updated at regular intervals.

Details of how Transport East expects to meet net zero goals can be found from page 156 in the strategy: https://committeeminutes.suffolk.gov.uk/DocSetPage.aspx?MeetingTitle=(11-10-2022),%20The%20Cabinet (item 8, appendix one).

The other strategic priorities for which goals are drawn up in the document are: connecting growing towns and cities, energising coastal and rural communities and unlocking international gateways – meaning ports and airports are better connected.

The document was endorsed in a unanimous vote by Suffolk County Council's cabinet on Tuesday and Suffolk was the last of Transport East's counties to do this.